Ideology in my Controversy

The following post will incorporate many of the things I have learned while learning about how to address the issue of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.

Who is involved in this controversy?
It's safe to say that most of us (the general American public) are in some way or another invested in this debate. As a nation of over 300 million people, many of us come from immigrant backgrounds. So even though we are all involved in some direct or indirect manner with this controversy, I would have to narrow down the true contenders to four broader categories; those who are opposed to immigration reform, those in favor of, the undocumented, and the general public. From within those four categories, each contains a variety of people from different backgrounds. For example, there are pro-immigration reform organizations, pro-immigration reform policymakers, pro-immigration general advocates and similarly anti-immigration reform organizations, anti-immigration reform policymakers, and anti-immigration reform advocates.  In my opinion, the more powerful people within those categories tend to be policymakers (since they already have  name recognition and some form of credibility and an established platform) and organizations because they have the resources to mobilize the masses through different means.

Who are some of the major actors within this controversy?
Once again, I would have to say that policymakers across the country are the major actors in the immigration reform debate. They are the ones who hold the mechanisms and ability to enforce or impose new laws that can address the issue. They have the means to communicate with the general public through interviews, press conferences, social media, etc. For me, the policymakers that are the head of these movements are the following; Sen, Flake (R-AZ), Sen, McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Schumer  (D-NY), Sen. Rubio (R-FL), Sen. Graham (R-SC), Sen. Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Bennet (D-CO). There are also other Congressional Representatives that are important figures in this debate like Rep. Gutierrez (D-IL) and Speaker of the House Rep. Boehner (R-OH). Now that the 2016 presidential elections are well underway, more political leaders will be part of this conversation so undoubtedly figures like Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush among others will be at the forefront of this conversation.
At the other end, there are a lot of organizations that have led strong campaigns either in favor of immigration reform or against. The advantage they have over policymakers is numbers in people. These organizations like America's Voice and Federation of American Immigration Reform (FAIR) are able to capitalize on a large following. They have been able to use their resources to pressure policymakers based on their distinct end goals. There are three important forms of power that give them leverage over policymakers; voting for lawmakers, being able to donate to lawmakers/orgs, and people resources.

What does each group value?
Those in favor of immigration reform value the contributions that immigrants (both documented and undocumented) have been able to provide for our country. They value the idea of opportunity and safety. Those who are opposed to immigration reform value the rule of the land. They value American values like justice.

Is there a power differential?
Yes, this is a controversial issue that can only really be address through one of the three branches in our government. Therefore, policymakers are the ones who currently hold the leverage on moving or blocking immigration reform attempts.

Is there a common ground or consensus on this topic?
Not necessarily. I believe that the common ground for this topic is that something needs to be done. Letting the issue accumulate more time will only make the situation worse and more difficult for a consensus  agreement to take place.

Do the various groups listen to each other?
On the surface, I believe the answer is yes. It's much easier to claim to listen to each other but that does not guarantee that listening will turn into action. I can listen to you present your side but if I am already convinced that you are wrong and I am right, not much will change. I think this is the general feeling regarding this topic." A "We can agree to disagree" mentality which unfortunately can become counterproductive.

Now that I have done more research on this topic, the breadth and complexity of addressing this issue has become even more clear. Immigration will continue to be a highly contested topic for many years to come.

FSP Vintage Collection. "A vintage photo of the United States Capitol building in Washington DC." Via Free Stock Photos. Public Domain