Immigration reform now

Not a week following the reported demise of immigration reform, House Majority Leader John Boehner vowed to put a bill on the president’s desk before Congress adjourns at the end of the month. Speaker Dennis Hastert agreed, adding “Congress cannot wait until next year to move on this issue. The American people expect us to tackle this problem and solve it.” Well said, Mr. Speaker.

But this is all very strange, considering Congress’ return to work last week ushered in a flurry of news stories and editorials assuring readers that there is “zero chance” of immigration reform passing before November. Strictly speaking, the reports may well be right. It will be very difficult to get the Senate and the House to agree on a bill, especially after Mr. Hastert also said that the Senate’s amnesty bill is off the table. What’s to be done?

Since the spring, the danger for Republicans going into the November elections has always been the appearance of inaction. But we still feel that enforcement-first is a winning strategy with the American people. Polls prove this, even if they also show support for a guest-worker program. If the Republican leadership is indeed committed to getting a bill to the president before November, it should go back to basics and focus on enforcement. That would mean giving the Pence-Hutchison compromise bill (with tougher triggers and greater limits on guest-workers) a second look. We understand the inclusion of a guest-worker program is a major concession, but let’s remember that such a plan would implement a program only after the border is deemed secure.

We also believe that a failure of Congress to address our immigration nightmare will hurt Republicans more than Democrats come November. The Democrats think this too, which is why they won’t likely consider any bill. The trick for Republicans is to highlight Democratic obstruction before the public by attempting to get some votes on record. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist should use the power of his office to bring an enforcement-first vote to the floor. If Democrats filibuster it, their obstructionism will be revealed.

What Republicans should not do is let the issue die. Politics aside, if Republicans lose the House all serious efforts to control the border will have been lost. That’s a much greater danger than conceding ground on a modified guest-worker program. The security of our borders is a matter of national security — a theme Republicans should reiterate from now until November.