Monday is D-Day — when Pedro and Salvacion Servano are due to report for deportation.
A rally has been held. Letters have been written. Petitions have been signed. Still, the train is barreling down the mountain. The catastrophe will be averted only if someone can find the switch to stop the bureaucratic behemoth. Who will be the hero?
None of our federal legislators has stepped forward. More outrageously, Pennsylvania’s two senators — Republican Arlen Specter and Democrat Bob Casey — have not even bothered to explain their inaction.
Six months ago, Congress failed to enact immigration reform. Their failing has left the situation unresolved for millions. In the Servanos’ case, time is simply running out. Overall reform months from now will not help them.
The Servanos’ best hope could be the introduction of a private immigration bill on their behalf. Over the past decade, almost 500 of these have been introduced. Few pass. But no law is passed without first being introduced. And in 500 cases, legislators saw fit to try to help immigrants who had fallen through the cracks. Our legislators have chosen not to employ the tactic to help the Servanos.
No lawmaking will occur this week because Congress is on break. Our legislators should use the time to lobby for a reprieve for the Servanos.
The most likely short-term solution may be an order from Michael Chertoff, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Both senators and Rep. Carney should appeal directly to him.
A staff member in Rep. Chris Carney’s office has reportedly been working on the case. That may be, but Rep. Carney has certainly kept a low-profile in the case. He may want to help without attracting the ire of anti-illegal immigrant zealots.
This is not the time to tip-toe around a delicate issue. The legislators have the bully pulpit. They should use it.
Their silence has been deafening.
The phone is ringing. Our legislators should know: The Central Susquehanna Valley is calling. Who will answer?
