Latino Republicans Push Back on Party’s Immigration Agenda

Posted by Vernon Lance Tarrance on March 09, 2023

 Now that the Republican Party has assumed control of the U.S. House of Representatives, the issue of immigration reform is finally back on the table as Democrats have been looking the other way for the last several years. As Americans know by now, Democrats have positioned subconsciously, if not consciously, to be for “open borders”, whereas Republicans contradict this position with restrictive policies that purport to create a more orderly and updated system of entry. Both sides of the issue seem intractable.

There are various theories of how to negotiate a reform or political compromise with an endgame that enables both sides to win some, if not all, proportion of the debate. The great German philosopher, Frederick Hegel, in the 19th century, created a systematic approach for uses in political compromises and the positive progression of History. He postulated that the history of civilization only moves forward based upon one side advocating a “Thesis” or strong point of view which is always contradicted the by an Anti-Thesis”, based upon perceived imperfections and design flaws. Hegel says that you have to use “Reason” or rational thought rather than emotionality or perceptions to finally arrive at a “Synthesis” or compromise that both sides can win, at least, somewhat each can win. In other words, civilization advances in a positive manner only when both sides agree to advancing the quality of life, which he calls a “Synthesis”. The key here is: how do you arrive at a successful mid-point to both points of view in which history can advance?

We have the situation under review currently, in the U.S. House of Representatives (featured in a recent Washington Post article, “Latino Republicans push back on party’s immigration agenda“, The Washington Post, by Adriana Gomez Licon, AP, February 28, 2023) which outlines the polar opposites on immigration. The tension is built around a “Thesis ” by Rep. Chip Roy, of Texas, who advocates U.S. officials to “automatically ban or detain ‘asylum seekers’ while their claims are being considered and banning all migrants from entering the U.S.”.

The “Anti-thesis” is countered by Representative Maria Salazar, Republican from Miami, willing to give “some status” for those who are already in the country illegally (i.e., those who already have jobs and have had durable and upstanding records in their community). In effect, it is a big ” first step” by Salazar to reach a subsequent political compromise. Rep. Salazar also believes that this legalization should be combined with a strong effort to secure the border, period. Of course, there are those on the edges of the political arena who want no immigration (deportation) and those on the other side of the political arena who don’t want to appear anti-immigrant. But, Rep. Salazar may have found a true ” sweet spot ” for starting the political debate again on immigration — a Synthesis of both border security cum rational legalization for those who have already successfully proved their economic and social worth in the U.S. (usually 7-10 years).

Take a look at the attached chart presented below: From the large scale Texas Latino Conservative poll conducted June 15-26, 2022 (N=1000 Hispanics, a special sample of those who demonstrated realignment potential to the GOP, 44% text to web, 40% live cell, 16% landline). As you will see, “legal work status” as a Synthesis is already preferred by 40% of the Hispanics surveyed by TLC. What a giant “first step” toward a political compromise if offered by the GOP and one that is supported by MOST Hispanics in Texas !

“A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP” (Chinese Proverb)

Using Reason and not emotional thought (with too many attached perceptive filters that usually are not actually real), it appears that TLC can support offering a “Third Way” or a Synthesis to the current political debate in Washington, D.C. The alternative is currently a zero, no linear progression toward positive compromise, and, even Rep. Roy has said, “Colleagues preferring to be fiddling while America burns.”

But, it appears that Roy’s thesis of a more absolutely closed entry is only supported by 23% of the Hispanics surveyed in Texas and does not appear to be a good “first start” towards compromise.To get rid of the impending certain inertia, the GOP must move to a “midpoint” or Synthesis if they want to advance the compromise and get credit for the result of progress.

The Salazar proposal of legalization , along with a more common sense secure border , is supported by 40% or more of Hispanics in Texas and would be an excellent way to start the flow of immigration reform immediately. Both sides could be first time winners and other compromises would most likely follow.

(TLC Poll Question: “Which of the following do you think will be the LONG TERM SOLUTION ,not a short term solution, to the problem of immigration reform?…citizenship–legal work status–or deportation ? (see actual wording and statistics in the above chart).

V. Lance Tarrance, Jr.

Tarrance Consulting