EDITORIAL: Time for leaders to follow the people on immigration reform

There are no more excuses for federal lawmakers to postpone fixing one of the country’s most vexing problems: immigration reform.

This week, a poll of Americans shows that nearly two-thirds of the country now believes that immigration reform should allow many illegal immigrants to stay in the country and work toward citizenship.

The days of shrill, xenophobic mandates are gone.

Just two years ago, only about half the country felt that way, according to past polls. During the past two years, Americans have seen the wisdom of allowing about 12 million people firmly entrenched in their communities find a way to become honest, taxpaying citizens.

It only makes sense because it’s clear that they’re not going anywhere.

This news comes after the U.S. Supreme Court decision on Arizona’s ill-fated immigration law made clear that the issue of immigration belongs to the federal government. It means that those in Arizona rightfully upset by Congress’ inability to act on illegal immigration can’t take the matters into their own hands, as Arizona tried to do. Colorado voters effectively snuffed many lawmakers who wanted this state to try similar stunts. And Aurora police have made it clear they cannot enforce immigration law because it endangers the entire community.

Illegal and even legal Hispanic immigrants will avoid police at all costs if cops are de-facto immigration officers, meaning they won’t call the cops when they know about a crime or even if they’re victims of a crime. It won’t take long before criminals figure this out and start targeting Hispanics for robberies and rapes, knowing that most won’t dare to call police for fear of being deported. But just as important, immigrants will start living underground lives, minimizing their contact with the rest of the community. An illegal immigrant involved in even a minor traffic accident will likely run from the scene, rather than take a chance of being deported.

Immigration matters are hugely time consuming, sapping police of resources needed to fight real crime.

Now, an almost super-majority of Americans, businesses and legislators want comprehensive reform. They insist on earned-amnesty for most immigrants, and a system that prevents future undocumented residents from flooding the country.

Some conservatives are talking out of both sides of their mouths on this issue. They must now answer not only to cold-hearted and irrational anti-immigration fanatics like former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo, but they must also answer to corporate America, which bankrolls conservative campaigns and has a critical need for the cheap labor illegal immigrants provide.

The middle road is the only answer. Rather than piecemeal more ineffective legislation, Congress must re-examine plans similar to the McCain-Kennedy measure, which sought to humanely, wisely and effectively deal with the 12 million illegal immigrants in the country.

More importantly, it sought to deal with giving businesses accurate tools to ensure prospective employees are either citizens or have valid work credentials. Comprehensive reform addresses the very real need for labor supplied by these illegal immigrants, and it allows the United States to ensure that the entire country is safe, rather than just the borders. It’s that kind of real reform Americans want, not xenophobic dramatics.