Boston Globe Editorial - New Americans
Boston Globe Editorial - New Americans
Copyright by The Boston Globe
Published: July 30, 2007
A sensible immigration reform bill failed in Congress this year, at least in part because the immigrants with firsthand experience of America's dysfunctional system lack enough political clout to press for improvements. Fortunately, recent developments have spurred many immigrants to apply for citizenship and register to vote.
It's a far slower road to reform. But new citizens could help change immigration policy if they exercise their right to vote - and if government officials protect this right against fraud and intimidation.
On Monday, the fee to apply for citizenship was set to jump from $400 to $675. In response to the increase, applications have been surging, according to federal immigration officials, jumping from some 74,600 in May of last year to 115,000 in May of this year. A citizenship drive in Boston last week drew 200 people. And similar events in New Hampshire and Rhode Island drew another 300. This was part of a national effort to help 1 million immigrants become voting citizens.
And earlier this month, federal immigration officials announced that 421 members of the United States military who are serving abroad became citizens, including 160 service members who were sworn in on July 4 in Iraq.
Voter registration drives are already held at swearing-in ceremonies for new citizens, but Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, says this effort will be expanded.
As their numbers and visibility rise, new citizen voters may face more efforts to manipulate them or keep them away from the polls. Such abuses occurred across the United States during the 2006 election. In Virginia, voters received fraudulent calls wrongfully informing them that they were ineligible to vote. In Maryland, deceptive flyers listed the names of Republican candidates as is if they were Democrats. The flyers were handed out in minority communities on election day. And in California, registered voters got letters stating that it was a crime for immigrants to vote.
Last month, the House passed a bill that would make intentionally misleading voters a federal crime. Sponsored by Rahm Emanuel, an Illinois Democrat, the bill would also increase the penalty for voter intimidation, which is already a crime. The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Promoting the voting rights of new citizens is vital. Every vote has to count. Otherwise a damning message is sent: The democratic system is rigged, and shrewd players should use whatever means possible to get their turn at doing the rigging.
As slow as voting may be in producing new laws, it remains a fundamental way to enact lasting change. As new citizens claim that right, it must be scrupulously defended.
Copyright by The Boston Globe
Published: July 30, 2007
A sensible immigration reform bill failed in Congress this year, at least in part because the immigrants with firsthand experience of America's dysfunctional system lack enough political clout to press for improvements. Fortunately, recent developments have spurred many immigrants to apply for citizenship and register to vote.
It's a far slower road to reform. But new citizens could help change immigration policy if they exercise their right to vote - and if government officials protect this right against fraud and intimidation.
On Monday, the fee to apply for citizenship was set to jump from $400 to $675. In response to the increase, applications have been surging, according to federal immigration officials, jumping from some 74,600 in May of last year to 115,000 in May of this year. A citizenship drive in Boston last week drew 200 people. And similar events in New Hampshire and Rhode Island drew another 300. This was part of a national effort to help 1 million immigrants become voting citizens.
And earlier this month, federal immigration officials announced that 421 members of the United States military who are serving abroad became citizens, including 160 service members who were sworn in on July 4 in Iraq.
Voter registration drives are already held at swearing-in ceremonies for new citizens, but Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, says this effort will be expanded.
As their numbers and visibility rise, new citizen voters may face more efforts to manipulate them or keep them away from the polls. Such abuses occurred across the United States during the 2006 election. In Virginia, voters received fraudulent calls wrongfully informing them that they were ineligible to vote. In Maryland, deceptive flyers listed the names of Republican candidates as is if they were Democrats. The flyers were handed out in minority communities on election day. And in California, registered voters got letters stating that it was a crime for immigrants to vote.
Last month, the House passed a bill that would make intentionally misleading voters a federal crime. Sponsored by Rahm Emanuel, an Illinois Democrat, the bill would also increase the penalty for voter intimidation, which is already a crime. The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Promoting the voting rights of new citizens is vital. Every vote has to count. Otherwise a damning message is sent: The democratic system is rigged, and shrewd players should use whatever means possible to get their turn at doing the rigging.
As slow as voting may be in producing new laws, it remains a fundamental way to enact lasting change. As new citizens claim that right, it must be scrupulously defended.
posted by Carlos T Mock @ 6:35 AM
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