While immigration reform barely appears on Americans’ list of priority issues, most people agree it needs to be addressed.

I was extremely disappointed last year when Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), representing the GOP’s new blood, appeared to be taken in by the likes of Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and John McCain (R-AZ) as a member of the so-called Gang of 8 as they cobbled together another comprehensive bill.

When I heard that immigration reform was on the agenda at the recent House Republican retreat my concern began to heighten again, even though I like the idea of taking on immigration reform in steps.  The timing, so close to the mid-term elections, however, was ill-conceived.

                                                                                               Cooler Heads Prevail

Cooler heads prevailed and the House proposal was put on the back burner.  Whether you believe House Speaker John Boehner’s reasoning that the president couldn’t be trusted to follow the provisions of the bill or it was an internal party squabble, thankfully it’s dead.

Yesterday, after appearing on NBC’s Face the Nation, Senator Schumer was falsely credited with calling House Speaker Boehner’s bluff on immigration reform.  Responding to the speaker’s decision to hold up immigration legislation because of the House’s distrust of the president to carry out its provisions, especially border security and enforcement, Schumer suggested the law be passed with an effective date of 2017, after the president leaves office.  Nice try, Senator.

                                       Failed Promises

It was Schumer who played a role in the disastrous 1986 immigration bill President Ronald Reagan signed amid promises it would grant legal status to illegal immigrants, crack down on employers who hired illegal workers and secure the border once and for all.  “We will secure the borders henceforth.  We will never again bring forward another amnesty bill like this,” said Sen.Ted Kennedy.

Democrats argued that illegals were paying taxes and bringing them “out of the shadows” would regularize “undocumented taxpayers.”  Sound familiar?

Reagan’s attorney general and long-time trusted friend, Ed Meese, said Reagan told him that signing the 1986 bill was the biggest mistake of his presidency.

Pundits and moderate Republicans believe that the party must support a path to citizenship in order to gain support from the Hispanic community, but history proves this too is a false hope.

                                                                                                              Hispanic Voting

After the 1986 signing, Reagan’s vice president, received 30 per cent of the Hispanic vote, down from the 37.6 per cent Reagan had averaged before he signed the bill.

President Obama has been promising Hispanics immigration reform every year since he was elected in 2008, including the years Democrats held both the House and Senate, yet he continued to win their votes.  While some say Hispanics endorse most conservative principles, they appear to vote for more big government.

If and when Republicans gain control of both the House and Senate, they should be committed to enforcing the laws already on the books after years of benign neglect.  It should be done because it’s the right thing to do, not because of the votes that may or may not result.