This year, we’re getting closer to a legislative solution for real immigration reform, but we are still fighting like crazy to make sure it is introduced and passed. One indicator that we’re getting there is the stepped-up activity from our anti-immigrant opponents.
I’ve been working on immigration reform for over a decade, so I’ve seen my share of stupid ideas from the anti-reform, status-quo camp. H.Res. 1026, the so-called “BRIDGE Resolution” is the latest. I call it the “BRIDGE to Nowhere” because it offers no actual solutions to our immigration crisis (just bigger, badder immigration enforcement with no fix for the broken system). It’s not even a bill. It’s a non-binding, but ugly, political ploy.
The “Bridge to Nowhere” is supported by the usual cast of anti-immigrant zealots in the House. The lead sponsor is Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and he’s joined by the likes of Rep. Steve King (R-IA) and the ever-reliable Heath Shuler (D-NC). And, of course, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is touting the proposal.
There was one name on the list of sponsors, however, that I frankly didn’t expect to see: Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PA).
If a rising star in the Democratic Party wants to side with hate groups and Steve King on immigration, that’s obviously his choice. But, more and more, there are going to be consequences. In years past, the immigration reform side played very nice. We offered real solutions and tried to ignore the opposition’s tactics. Perhaps we even gave Members of Congress like Patrick Murphy a pass when we figured they didn’t know what they were signing onto. Not anymore.
Today, America’s Voice is launching an online ad campaign targeting Murphy and his support of this anti-immigration reform gimmick. Murphy’s fans should expect more from him.
There have already been many calls for Murphy to remove his name from the “BRIDGE to Nowhere. The Irish Immigration Center in Philadelphia took the lead and has been vocally targeting Murphy:
The Irish Immigration center says they are “disappointed that Rep. Murphy is taking such a regressive stance on immigration reform. Immigration reform that does not provide a solution for the undocumented is impractical and inhumane.”
The Irish Center has been directing calls in to Murphy’s offices in PA.
At DailyKos, Markos wrote that Murphy’s involvement was a “cheap anti-immigrant shot”:
Murphy thinks he can sign on to symbolic resolutions like this one as an easy way to score political points, yet the time to use immigrants as a punching bag is closing. Not only is it cruel, but it’s also bad policy and bad politics.
Not to mention this kind of demagoguery would waste $4 trillion, when our economy is already quite fragile.
Patrick Murphy has a choice: He can side with a wide coalition of labor, business, religious, progressive, and community leaders who support immigration reform and want to solve the problem. And the majority of the American people. Or, he can cast his lot with anti-immigrant the Steve Kings in the House and the hate group, FAIR, by supporting a “regressive” and “cruel” proposal that enshrines the status quo, insures our immigration system stays broken, and seeks to expel the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living and working in our country.
So, far, Murphy has sided with King and FAIR, but we’re not giving up. We don’t think Murphy really wants to stay on this “BRIDGE to nowhere” with the immigrant bashers. And, if he does, he can’t say he wasn’t warned.
