Temporary Stopgap Measures Not Enough for Immigration Reform

Miami, FL (Law Firm Newswire) October 17, 2012 – This administration has deported more illegal immigrants than any other government in history. What is next?

“It’s tough to look at what is going on in this election campaign without comparing it to so many others and seeing the same things happening over and over,” remarked Larry S. Rifkin, a Miami immigration lawyer and managing partner at Rifkin & Fox-Isicoff, with law offices in Miami, Florida and Orlando, Florida. “On one hand they say the system needs to be fixed. No one could argue with that. On the other hand, they don’t fix it, they just deport people like there is no tomorrow, and keep avoiding the issue, which accomplishes nothing.”

For a real blast of irony, take note of the National Council of La Raza annual convention, held in the summer. Obama commented on his efforts to fix the system humanely, and then added that he knew that some wanted him to bypass Congress and change the laws on his own – and then the crowd overrode his speech, chanting, “Yes, you can.” An awkward moment for a man whose first campaign pledge to the nation was to overhaul the immigration system – a pledge he has still not lived up to.

Following that embarrassing moment, quiet moments of reflection were had by many of the backroom political gurus running Obama’s campaign. Something needed to be done. What followed was announced in June, the deportation policy for young illegal immigrants brought to the country as children. “It is a step in the right direction, but in no way can this be viewed as a permanent fix,” Rifkin added.

In bringing this short-term policy into effect, the government insists that it is merely part of the long-term plan to deal with immigration reform; that it was really already in the works, and they knew that low-risk illegal immigrants were jamming the system. The gift in this short-term deportation deferral? It will deal with some of the immigration issues now, in a cursory way, but the tough question still needs to be asked, “What is going to happen in the long run when the deferral runs out, and nothing has been done about immigration reform as a whole?” said Rifkin.

While relief and hope may be evident for two years, will they still be alive when the policy expires? And what will be done in the meantime?

To learn more or to contact an Orlando immigration attorney or Miami immigration attorney, visit http://www.rifkinfox.com.

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