Sindell Law Offices E-Min Newsletter (Vol. 8) - English Article #34

   On the pro-immigration side, the following are important to note:


- Rep. Tancredo (R-CO) won by 60% (2004), compared to 67% (2002). Mr. Tancredo is the most visible anti-immigration representative in Congress and his　narrow victory may set the stage for a pro-immigration Republican to challenge him down the line.

- Rep. Flake (R-AZ) won by 79% (2004), compared to 65% (2002). Rep. Kolbe (R-AZ) won by 60% (2004), compared to 63% (2002). Mr. Kolbe and Mr. Flake were in favor of legislation similar to President Bush's guest worker program. Their strong victories may produce renewed support for sweeping immigration change in the next Congress.

- Mr. Kris Kobach lost his race for the House of Representatives in Kansas. Mr. Kobach, formerly Attorney General Ashcroft's key advisor and appointee, was the most anti-immigrationist individual to make a serious run for the House of Representatives in 2004. 

On the anti-immigration side, the following was notable:


- Arizona's Proposition 200 measure won by 56%. This is the worst anti-immigration ballot initiative to pass after California's notorious Proposition 187. However, this loss will likely be meaningless since Proposition 200 is flawed and will soon lose in the courts.

- Sen. Daschle (D-SD) lost. Mr. Daschle was the courageous co-sponsor of the SOLVE Act (along with Sen. Hagel (R-NE) who was re-elected). However, the new Senate will likely continue to be friendlier to pro-immigration legislation as compared to the House.

- Rep. Dreier (R-CA) won by 54% (2004), compared to 64% (2002). Mr. Dreier was targeted by the anti-immigrationists because they wanted to make an example of a pro-immigration Republican.

The expanded Republican majority in the House gives the President more room to maneuver in pushing sweeping pro-immigration legislation through the House in the next Congress.　Immigration is likely to be an important theme in President Bush's second term, we look to next year with hope that things will improve for immigration.