Immigration Becomes a "Back Burner" Issue in the U.S.

Public Radio Internetional had an insightful piece of analysis on the place of immigration as a political issue in the U.S. now. Immigration looks set to become a non-issue for a time as the new administration of President-elect Barack Obama takes on more pressing economic problems.

The failure of Congress to reform immigration has led to tougher enforcement of existing immigration law in America – including raids over the last year that sometimes seem heavy handed.

Enforcement actions over the past year have not seemed like they are aimed at any strategic goal. PRI quotes Don Kerwin of the Migration Policy Institute as saying that just 3% of immigration-related arrests so far this year have led to charges against employers: "If the mission is to disrupt the infrastructure that facilitates illegal migration and employment you'd expect a higher number of employer prosecutions."

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Juan Estey

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