Election 2008: What’s At Stake?

News 21’s immigration coverage ends this week, after 6 months of ICE raids and tight electoral races.

Within the dual themes of “New Voters” and “Old Fears,” we tracked the increasing power and rising visibility of immigrant voters, along with the backlash against them in places as far-flung as Hazleton, Pa. and Farmers Branch, Tex. In the fall, we also began to see the impact the economic crisis was having on immigrants and immigration. We followed several close campaigns, and we watched Barack Obama’s election as our next president, with the help of immigrant voters in states like New Mexico and Virginia.

While News 21 is moving on the a new set of topics in 2009, immigration will continue to be a major issue in the U.S., just as it always has. While it might not take center stage in the next Congress, the issue will continue to provoke strong opinions. Will comprehensive immigration reform pass under the new administration? Will ICE change its tactics, leading to a decline in raids? Will states and municipalities continue passing anti-immigration legislation? Will the flood of illegal immigrants be controlled?

It is also important to remember that immigration is not only an issue to be debated; the millions of us who are immigrants have changed the fabric of America. New Americans are becoming voters, and in some cases they are swinging elections. We are also seeing immigrants and their children rise to powerful positions– in a way, our next president counts as one of them.

It’s been a big year for immigration. Stay tuned for another round of fascinating and important topics next year.