The May 21, 2001 issue of The Nation magazine explained clearly what the immigrant-rights groups of America seek: the virtual elimination of U.S. borders and the nearly free flow of illegal aliens through the country. In an approving article by Julie Quiroz-Martinez of the Center for Third World Organizing, the pro-illegal-immigration agenda of the immigrant-rights groups was detailed:

• an amnesty and path to U.S. citizenship for all illegal aliens now in this country;
• a process by which a new amnesty is constantly being provided so that future illegal aliens will always be "in process to access permanent residency;"
• the end to sanctions against hiring illegal aliens so that they will have full access to all U.S. jobs;
• "demilitarization of the U.S.-Mexico border;"
• drivers licenses for all illegal aliens;
• in-state tuition for illegal aliens at state universities.

It appears that the United States that is being sought for the future would be one where most people who try to cross our borders illegally would be able to do so without harrassment by a nominal Border Patrol. They would be legally free to work and to take advantage of most tax-supported services. They apparently could still be picked up and deported, but if they can escape detection for a short time, they would be rewarded with the path to U.S. citizenship.

In a companion article, David Bacon of Pacific News Service writes that the pro-illegal-immigration agenda is finally receiving its proper place on the political agenda because of the wholehearted support of the national AFL-CIO. He notes that the percentage of U.S. workers in the private sector who now are in unions has fallen to an incredibly low 9 percent. To keep the percentage from falling any farther, the unions will need to organize 400,000 new workers each year. The best opportunity is among foreign-born workers, especially illegal aliens. The AFL-CIO wants to make sure that dues-paying illegal aliens are under no threat of having to return to their home countries.

Bacon wrote thankfully that the AFL-CIO has finally turned away from its long policy that "sought to protect wages for native-born workers by excluding immigrants."

Actually, Bacon got his history a little skewed. The AFL-CIO from its beginnings around 1900 until the year 2000 sought to protect wages for both native-born AND immigrant workers by demanding that the government keep the flow of new foreign workers modest. (Read more from Samuel Gompers, founder of the AFL)