Napolitano Makes the Push for Amnesty

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano made the push yesterday for a mass amnesty while speaking to the American Center for Progress. Napolitano said that her department has worked hard to increase enforcement and strengthen the border, but the real solution is for reform.

Napolitano was invited to speak at the center that’s led by John Podesta. Her remarks not only laid out her goals for a mass amnesty, but she also argued on behalf of business groups and unions who need reform to fill jobs.

Let me be clear: when I talk about “immigration reform,” I’m referring to what I call the “three-legged stool” that includes a commitment to serious and effective enforcement, improved legal flows for families and workers, and a firm but fair way to deal with those who are already here. … We know that one-sided reform, as we saw in 1986, cannot succeed. During that reform effort, the enforcement part of the equation was promised, but it didn’t materialize.

Napolitano said she has seen a major shift since the “comprehensive immigration reform” effort failed in 2007, and now is the time to readdress the issue.

[T]he security of the Southwest border has been transformed from where it was in 2007. The federal government has dedicated unprecedented resources to the Mexican border in terms of manpower, technology and infrastructure—and it’s made a real difference. …

[T]he immigration debate in 2007 happened during a period of historically high levels of illegal entry into the United States. Two years later, because of better enforcement and the current economic circumstances, those numbers have fallen sharply. The flow has reduced significantly – by more than half from the busiest years, proving we are in a much different environment than we were before.

These are major differences that should change the immigration conversation.

Napolitano noted that her department has shifted workplace enforcement efforts from the workers to the employers, which she said is a “critical part of comprehensive immigration reform.” She also said that a larger part of the American public has joined the pro-amnesty side, including local law enforcement and the National Association of Evangelicals.

Napolitano also said the following issues need to be fixed, and immigration reform is the only solution to do so:

Fines for business who hire illegal workers need to be increased
More resources are needed at the border as well as more legal tools for combating drug smuggling
People in the country illegally need to be brought out of the shadows

You can read Napolitano’s full remarks at the DHS website.