First test for McCain?

If you haven't yet heard the news, Senate Republicans are introducing insane immigration legislation. From the LA Times:

WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans are set to announce today the hardest-hitting package of immigration enforcement measures seen yet -- one that would require jail time for illegal immigrants caught crossing the border, make it harder for them to open bank accounts and compel them to communicate in English when dealing with federal agencies.

Most of the bills stand little chance of being debated in the Democratic-controlled Congress. But the move by some of the Senate's leading Republicans underscores how potent the immigration issue remains, particularly in a presidential election year.

The bills give Republicans a way to put pressure on the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates to take a tougher stance on immigration. They also reflect a shift toward harsher immigration rhetoric and legislative proposals from both parties since Congress failed to pass a comprehensive overhaul in 2007.

Senator Bob Menendez, who has spoken at numerous NDN events and has been an integral part of our work, was quick to release a statement challenging GOP nominee John McCain to reject the legislation:

"I am calling on Senator McCain, as his party's presumptive nominee, to reject this draconian approach to immigration reform, which would demonize the Latino community. As a past sponsor of comprehensive immigration reform who has since said he would have voted against his own bill, it is important for Senator McCain to define his position on this cynical Republican effort. The mainstream of America knows full well that the immigration system is broken, but they also recognize that an unbalanced, narrow approach won't fix it. We need a system that is tough but smart and civil and actually works for our economy - a system that protects the borders while protecting our legacy as a nation of immigrants. Many of the 44 million Latinos in this country will be eager to hear where Senator McCain stands.

The Republican Party might think this is a wedge issue for November, but their strategy only dims their chances this year and for generations to come. Latinos are not a group on the fringes of our society that can be manipulated to score political points. If this presidential primary season has shown us anything, it is that Latinos are no longer the sleeping giant in American politics - they are fully awake, active and making a difference. This is the type of cynical effort that serves to deepen the divisions in our nation that we should be working to bridge."

What a predicament Senator McCain has gotten himself into! We know he won't return to his own legislation. So it seems that, given the eagerness within the Hispanic electorate to vote Democratic, his honeymoon as the nominee of his party ends with a consequential test.

Update: Senator Menendez wrote a letter to Senator McCain urging him to reject the new GOP legislation. You can download a pdf of it on Menendez's website.