Sen. Akaka vows to revive his Filipino Family Reunification bill

WASHINGTON D.C. – Even before the Senate June 28 failed to muster enough votes to proceed with debates on S. 1639, the bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform measure, House Republicans filed a more draconian immigration bill which, among other things, would bar the 12 million illegal aliens from gaining legal status and make English the nation’s official language.

Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), the bill has also no chance of passing in the House or Senate.

With the defeat of the Senate bill, observers said it would take years before Congress could come up with another immigration bill. This means theestimated 12 million illegal aliens, including thousands of Filipinos, will have to remain in the shadows.
Supporters of S 1639 blamed President Bush for failing to get Republican senators to support a bill he personally campaigned for. Hispanics and Asian American groups also deplored the failure of the Senate to solve the broken immigration system.

Sen, Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) said: “I am disappointed that the Senate today passed on the opportunity to replace our nation’s broken immigration system with one that is tough, enforceable and practical." Akaka said. “A huge backlog in the issuance of family visas (including to the children of Filipino World War II veterans), a broken and porous border, 12-million undocumented immigrants, human trafficking, inadequate mechanisms to verify the legal status of all of the nation’s workers, and the exploitation of undocumented immigrants are the evidence that our current immigration system is broken."

“The comprehensive immigration bill was certainly not perfect, but it represented an effort by Senators from both sides of the aisle to come together to address an issue that politicians had for avoided for too long. It was a courageous effort by our Leader Harry Reid, my good friend and colleague Senator Ted Kennedy, and many others to fix our broken immigration system.

“I also regret that as a result of the bill’s failure, my Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, incorporated into S.1639 by amendment, is also off the floor for the time being. However, I am determined to renew my efforts to see this bill through Congress so that the children of Filipino World War II veterans who are now U.S. citizens may join their fathers in their golden years," Akaka said.

However, Filipinos who are legally in the US applauded the failure because the new bill would have barred them from petitioning their parents and brothers and sisters for family-based visas. This provision would have been scrapped under the defeated bill. Many illegals, including Filipinos, who entered the US with valid visas but later overstayed have told friends they will now continue to live the life of a TNT (tago ng tago) and hoping they will not be detected.

The Washington Post and other mainstream media in the US said advocates for immigration reforms are angry over the defeat of the bill. Although angered and alarmed by the rejection, illegal immigrants in the Washington area said they would risk staying here with harsh conditions rather than returning to their impoverished home countries. Many Filipino illegals preferred to keep quiet and not identify themselves. The Post quoted Roberto Villaroel, 47 a day laborer from Bolivia and leader of illegal immigrants in Virginia that “This is a very big blow to all of us.”

“The bill would have brought stability to our community and stopped the persecution of workers. It would have transformed the world of immigrants. Instead, we are left in a very bad and fearful place, and all because of politics."

The National Federation of Filipino American Associations and Asian American groups which have supported the Senate bill have remained silent after the Senate vote.