Am I the only one who is skeptical of President Obama's empty promise of immigration reform in an election year? The way I see it is that the President squandered his early popularity and political capital, and is now giving lip service to an issue that he promised to address right out of the gates when asking for our votes.
It was one of the hallmarks of his campaign and was a carrot that was dangled to woo the coveted Hispanic vote as well as being an integral part of the "Change" we believed in. With the promise of immigration reform in year-one officially broken now we are supposed to believe that it will happen in 2010 with the mid-term elections looming above. As they say fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
The reason why I as an immigration advocate am so skeptical about the President's sincerity of seriously addressing the issue of comprehensive immigration reform is that actions speak louder than words. So let us look at President Obama's actions: he has turned his back to a family member who is struggling in the United States, and is facing deportation.
The facts are that the man's own flesh and blood is disabled, and learning to walk again as a result of an autoimmune disorder while facing the threat of removal from the United States, and yet as the leader of the "Free World" he has done absolutely NOTHING in the entire first year in office to address a concern that literally affects millions of individuals in this country, let alone a family member.
It is simply unconscionable that a man who has the power of the Executive Branch at his disposal, which ironically includes the very agency that threatens to forcibly remove his elderly, and handicapped family member, is willing to let his Aunt's fate run "its ordinary course". I know if it were my Aunt she would deserve better.
Mr. President, considering how this issue personally affects your family your complete inaction on immigration reform speaks volumes of your character, and is simply shameful. If you were my relative I would return the favor and turn my back to you. As an ordinary citizen and immigration advocate I am forced to merely turn my back on your Presidency. Bring on 2012.
"Zeituni Onyango (zay-TUH'-nee awn-YAHN'-goh) told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that she is troubled that her immigration woes have made her a political liability to her nephew."
"Onyango said she previously had no trouble visiting Obama when he was state senator in Illinois or after he became U.S. senator, though she declined to discuss details of how often she had contact with Obama and his family."
"She is disabled and learning to walk again after being paralyzed for more than three months due to an autoimmune disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome." ~Associated Press
