SQUARING THE CIRCLE ON IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL

The political challenges faced by the  U.S. Congress, as it debates comprehensive reform of immigration policy, have an informative historical parallel. In the early 1900s, repeated efforts at revising immigration rules were stymied in Congress by a fundamental ambiguity within the Republican Party, which then -as now- represented some of the most dedicated opponents of immigration while also seeking votes from immigrants.

 

Echoes of Ellis Island era debates and lawmaking

(Drew Keeling in Los Angeles Times, 4 July, 2013)

 

                             ( see also: "Other Echoes: Angel Island" )

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Eches of Ellis Island era debates and lawmaking
Immigration debates from the Ellis Island era have a familiar ring today.
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President Theodore Roosevelt, popular with immigrant voters, campaigning in Los Angeles in 1912 (Los Angeles Times, January 15, 1998 / July 4, 2013).
In 1906-07, Republican President Theodore Roosevelt helped broker a mostly pro- immigration compromise between restrictionist and anti-restrictionist Republicans in Congress. (Roosevelt, popular with immigrant voters, campaigns in Los Angeles in 1912.)

                (Photo: Los Angeles Times, July 4, 2013)