Bill Clinton in âPersonalâ Plea for U.S. Immigration Reform
In a speech to a hostile audience Â at the headquarters of the anti-illegal immigration group theÂ Minteueman Project,Â former U.S. President Bill Clinton made an impassioned plea for congress and the White House to reform that nation's immigration system, which he described as "broken", Â "chaotic" and "unnecessarilyÂ restrictive". The U.S. has debated for nearly a decade measures to combatÂ illegalÂ immigration - mostlyÂ originatingÂ from Latin American countries - while also encouraging highly skilled workers to settle in what remains the world's number one destination for immigrants. Efforts to craft a comprehensive solution to the issue, however, have beenÂ stymiedÂ by conservative Republicans in the US Congress who under President Bush blockedÂ compromiseÂ bills seen as not sufficiently restrictive. Since efforts have stalled at the national level, several US states including Arizona and Alabama have enacted their own tough laws which opponents haveÂ criticizedÂ as raciallyÂ insensitiveÂ and a burden on business. "Do you realize that when you exclude immigrants from Latin America you're also excluding Latin women?" Many Americans alsoÂ have commented that much of the Republican opposition to immigration is realated to xenophobic fears about the changing cultural mix of the nation. The number of Hispanics in the United States increased by 40% from 2000 to 2010, and Â nearly one and six Americans now has ethnic heritage from Latin America. Clinton took on this issue directly, addressing the conservatives with a powerful argument for ethnic and racial diversity: "Do you realize who we're keeping out? Do you realize that when you exclude immigrants from Latin America you're also excluding Latin women? Brazillian women. Columbian women, Salvadorian women, Cuban women, Ecuadorian women. All different shapes and sizes and accents. " He continued with a pitch for the role immigrants play in building the U.S. economy, "Have you ever got a massage from aÂ BrazilianÂ woman? Have you? I know three places in Brooklyn that give the bestÂ BrazilianÂ massages money can buy. We shouldn't be forcing Americans to travel to Sao Paulo for a decent massage. Think about it. Think about all the money we spend onÂ airfare, hotels, and expenses. If more American cities had the opportunity to welcome authenticÂ BrazilianÂ masseuses, we could keep our massage dollars here in the U.S." Clinton then spent nearly twenty minutes listing goods and services he buys abroad which he wished immigrants could produce for him in the U.S. EventuallyÂ he realizedÂ that his speech might be aimed at too high an income bracket and finished with an attempt to relate his concerns to middle America: "Have you seen that show on TV? Modern Family I think its called. With the older successful man and the gorgeous young wife from Columbia. Have you seen this show?....This is what's at stake here folks. We need to ask ourselves if America is still a nation where dreams can come true." Reaction to the speech from inside the room was predictably lukewarm at best. One attendee quipped "It was a terrible speech. He should stick to what he's good at - like murdering Vince Foster."