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National Guard at the border begs question – How do we jail millions of people?
President Bush’s call for National Guard troops on the border is “a political move that flies in the face of reality,” according to Robert Barsky, editor of AmeriQuests and an expert on refugee, border and migration issues. “When you have a mobile work force of millions of illegal immigrants the reality is that they are going to cross back and forth to be with their families. Whether you put up a wall of people or a cement wall, illegal immigrants are going to find a way to be with their families, so then it becomes a question of how do we incarcerate millions of people,” he said. Barsky is working on a research project about inmates held for immigration concerns. Prior to joining Vanderbilt, he taught at Yale University’s Center for International and Area Studies. He has authored many articles and two books on refugees and immigration policies. His book, Arguing and Justifying, looks at why people flee their country seeking refuge elsewhere. He is the founding editor of AmeriQuests, a journal that focuses on dislocation and relocation in the Americas. Barsky is also a professor of French and comparative literature.
Prime-time address could help president take control on immigration debate
Delivering a nationally televised speech on immigration shows President Bush wants to act, not react, on the debate about cracking down on illegal immigrants, according to presidential expert John Geer. “Bush needs to stake out some ground to maintain his eroding conservative base of support as well as take charge of the debate with Congress,” said Geer, author of From Tea Leaves to Opinion Polls. “Some think that these prime-time presidential speeches can give a boost to a president’s popularity, and this is Bush’s best way to get a national platform for his message.” Geer is the editor of the Journal of Politics and teaches and writes about elections, party politics and political behavior.
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