Let me state emphatically that I believe America should allow anyone who wants to come to America (after a background check) the ability to have a legal status as an American.  To me – they’re American in their hearts.  Immigrants used to get checked through Ellis Island, New York in 3 days; we could do that too if we had the political courage.  And I believe that the vast majority of people who worry about immigrants are just modern day bigots; when you hear someone complaining about immigration – they’re not talking about Canadians … they’re talking about brown people.  There’s the rub.

In 2010 – the House of Representatives led by a Democratic majority passed the Dream Act; in December of 2010 – even though the Democrats received 55 votes in the Senate … it was not enough to overcome a Republican filibuster which blocked the bill from becoming law despite a solid majority.  So – despite trying to address all the bullshit concerns that conservatives would constantly use as excuses to rationalize maintaining the status quo … it was apparent that there would be no way President Obama would be able to get Republicans to alter their current anti-latino rhetoric or voting record.

So – President Obama decided to do whatever he could legally with an executive order.  This year – he signed an executive order that would stop the deportation of young undocumented immigrants (source).  The White House explains who qualifies HERE.  Mitt Romney attacked President Obama for his executive order and then when pressed on his position … Romney would not publicly give his position on what he would do regarding undocumented workers.  We wrote all about that HERE.

Well now that executive order has taken effect; CBS Reports that Governor Jan Brewer (R-AZ) has signed an executive order to deny drivers licenses or even basic benefits for those Latinos HERE:

In Arizona, which passed one of the nation’s toughest anti-immigration laws, Gov. Jan Brewer signed an executive order Wednesday directing state agencies to deny driver’s licenses and other public benefits to illegal immigrants who obtain work authorizations under a new federal program.

Gov. Brewer said the federal program doesn’t give immigrants legal status and she’s following the intent of the current state law denying public benefits to them.

To be eligible for the federal program, called “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” immigrants must prove they arrived in the United States before they turned 16, are 30 or younger, have been living in the country at least five years and are in school or graduated or served in the military. They cannot have been convicted of certain crimes or otherwise pose a safety threat.

Even though the Governor was dealt a blow to her anti-Latino immigration law by the Supreme Court this year which ruled 75% of the legislation she signed into law to be unconstitutional … she is at it again with the conservatives in her party who are on a witch hunt to completely alienate Latinos.  Remember – the people who are eligible under the federal program that started today did not make a decision to come here illegally … they were brought by their parents and most of them have only known America as their home.

And we know now – what we didn’t know then – that the author of the Arizona immigration law sent racist emails about Latinos thanks to a public records request by the ACLU; we wrote about that HERE.

And yet – this Governor would like to do everything possible to single out these kids who broke no law and are told “get in the back of the line” and go back to another country they don’t remember for at least another 8 years and then maybe they’ll qualify for citizenship in American one day.  That’s the kind of compassion this Governor has for the Latino community.  That’s conservatism.

Rachel Maddow covers the big crowds throughout the country of people trying to avoid federal prosecution simply for existing in America without being legal citizens.

I put together a lengthy collection of videos and various positions from Mitt Romney and the rest of his surrounding conservative caucus relative to their stance on immigration in “Latinos don’t like pachyderms“.  It is any wonder why the Latino community feels alienated and demonized by the Republican party and the conservative movement.

“There is no issue that is more alarming for the future national viability of the Republican Party than this one.  The precipitous drop in the support levels for Republicans is alarming because it indicates that more and more Hispanics are simply disqualifying from consideration anyone with an ‘R’ next to their name.”
~Steve Schmidt, John McCain’s 2008 political adviser

So is it any wonder as Politico reports that President Obama is on track to win at least 70% of the Latino vote while Romney could even win as little as 20%.   They write HERE:

Obama’s lead over Romney among Hispanic voters in national polling hovers around and even above the 40 percent mark. Last month, a Latino Decisions survey showed Obama touching 70 percent of the vote and leading by 48 points. An NBC/Wall Street Journal/Telemundo poll conducted in late July found Obama taking 67 percent of Latinos to Romney’s 23 percent. The POLITICO/George Washington University Battleground Poll published Monday placed that lead at 62 percent to 26 percent.

In other words, Obama’s commanding lead has not diminished and may be cemented in place. Univision anchor Jorge Ramos framed the Republican dilemma in a tweet after Ryan was announced as Romney’s ticket mate: “?How can [Paul Ryan] attract the Hispanic vote? If Republicans don’t get a third of the Latino vote they won’t get the White House back.”

An infographic to understand who qualifies for DACA:

WGN reports on what happened in Chicago – 13,000 people just in one day:

Here are some pictures of people the Republican party wants to throw out of this country but can’t because of President Obama’s executive order:

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