Divine Says Immigration Reform ‘Challenging’

Lawyer decries Americans who wish to maintain their hegemony.

By Michael Davis

Robert Divine (pictured right), former chief counsel of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, told the Rotary Club of Chattanooga Thursday that there needs to be a multifaceted approach to addressing the immigration issue in America.

Mr. Divine* served part of his time with the agency as acting director and also as acting deputy director. He said that people will find a way to come to the United States since there is a demand for work here and a supply of workers south of the border.

“We do not have the will and the resources, in my opinion, to put toward a border … that can on its own prevent (illegal immigration) from happening,” he said at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

Mr. Divine was appointed by President Bush as chief counsel of the immigration services and served in that capacity in Washington, D.C., from July 2004 until November 2006.

Mr. Divine, who now works in Chattanooga and leads the immigration group for law firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, said it is essential to have mechanisms for employment verification and allowances for some people to stay in America.

“I’ve never heard anybody who’s in charge of immigration enforcement ever say that they thought that they could deport 10 million people,” he said.

source w/ audio

*Be advised Mr. Divine’s law firm has an office in China, one of the most “nativist” and protectionist countries in history. European Americans United will monitor Mr. Divine’s progress as he attempts to multiculturalize his Chinese hosts…

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2007-07-13