No Time For Compromise

Guest blogger: James Luppi, law student, University of San Franciso

A bill currently making its way through the House of Representatives, H.R. 6 the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (ADPA), seeks to create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented persons who were brought over to the United States as minors. This bill comes as more migrants, many of which are minors, are seeking new lives in the United States. Many of these new migrants have begun to make the journey to the southern border, believing that now that President Biden has ended the more draconian policies of the former administration, it is safe to go to America.

While all of this is taking place, Congressional Republicans along with other conservative pundits have declared that what the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress are doing is unequivocally un-American. To these Republicans and other conservatives I have only one thing to ask: Who the fuck do you people think you are? The Republican Party is, to date, the most undemocratic and un-American political organization in this country. The Republican Party allowed former President and traitor Donald Trump to incite a violent riot outside and inside the halls of Capital Hill because he could not accept his legitimate defeat at the hands of his opponent and his fellow countrymen. Most Senate Republicans refused to hold Donald Trump accountable for his actions in almost overthrowing our government to install himself as President, citing a Constitutional limitation on Congress’ power to impeach the president after his term expired (that they made up). The Republican Party still refuses to hold accountable any of its current members of Congress like Senator Ted Cruz and Congresswoman Marjery Taylor Greene for their roles in inciting an insurrection against our country.

            Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell even condemned Trump for inciting the riot that almost killed himself and his colleagues, but still decided to vote against preventing the orange traitor from being able to hold office again. And now the former President is free to spend his days golfing in Florida and calling into Fox News. The “America First” party literally tried to dismantle this country from the inside-out and these people have the audacity to demand some sort of compromise just to allow the most vulnerable amongst our population to have the same rights as their neighbors?

            I feel like I’m living in topsy-turvy land. I’ve paid attention to American politics for almost my entire life, and believe me, reader, I’ve seen and heard a lot of crazy things come out of Washington D.C. But this is, hands down, the most hypocritical thing I’ve seen to date. That these people actually have the power to decide the fate of undocumented people brought here as children is frightening. Like most of the world, I too saw the events of the Capitol Riots take place, and maybe you saw it differently than I did, but from what I could tell many of the terrorists were white Americans. I doubt a single one of them can speak a second language if they tried.

            But of course, none of these terrorists will face deportation, unlike the undocumented persons targeted in the ADPA. None of these Congressional Republicans, their conservative pundit cronies, or the former President will ever face any consequence for their actions. It boils my blood to think that these people are actually going to make demands of undocumented persons to follow the very laws that these Republicans refuse to comply with. What makes me angrier is Congressional Democrats and President Biden’s refusal to be stronger on the issue.

            Democrats insist on playing nice with Republicans who seem uninterested in doing anything helpful. Former First Lady Michelle Obama once said “When they go low, we go high.” Well, Michelle, that’s great advice when you expect your adversary to follow your example, instead of exploiting you at every turn. Democrats must put forward a bill that is uncompromising. The ADPA should not just make these undocumented persons “Lawful Permanent Residents” it should go further and make them naturalized citizens. Undocumented persons brought here and raised here are Americans, in my view. If they grew up in this country, they are a part of this country. Period.

            Congress has the plenary power of naturalization under the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause to do this. Democrats should not capitulate to those who sponsored terrorism in determining who the “real” Americans are. President George W. Bush, a Republican, once said that the United States “does not negotiate with terrorists.” President Biden and Congressional Democrats cannot drop the ball on this one. When the Republicans demand that democrats focus on “actual” Americans, Democrats should tell them that they are focusing on “actual” Americans. When Republicans tell democrats that Democrats care more about criminals than citizens, Democrats should tell them to look in a mirror.

            Enough is enough. Doing the right thing should not be a political debate. DREAMers are more deserving of citizenship than homegrown terrorists and their enablers.

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