Editor's Comments of the Day

A thriller of an election, but not such thrilling news for immigration. What may go down as the closest election in American history does not bode well for those who favor immigration. The Republicans, by the slimmest of margins, have retained control of Congress. They avoided a fight over the "Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act (LIFA)" before the election. It is unlikely the Democrats will muster the strength to push it through a lame duck session, and with a Repbulican administration there will be little chance for its passage in the 107th Congress. With the projected loss of Spencer Abraham in Michigan, the Senate loses one of the most vocal supporters of immigration. James Rogan, a supporter of business immigration in the House also lost. With such a slim majority, the chairmen of the committees and subcommittees, including Lamar Smith, the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims, are likely to wield even more power. One piece of good news for those who are pro-immigration is the defeat of Brian Bilbray of California, a staunch supporter of H.R. 73 which would deny citizenship at birth to children born in the United States of parents who are not citizens or permanent resident aliens. While the nation waits to learn who won the presidential election, the losers are those who would benefit from advancing the registry date, NACARA parity and the resotration of 245(i).