NDLON

Immigration reform has been on the national agenda for more than ten years, and it is a paramount issue for millions of voters.  On Tuesday, a question was finally asked of both presidential candidates about their views on this defining issue of our time.  The discussion was too brief and frankly raised more questions than answers.  American voters deserve to hear a more thorough discussion of each candidate's views, and tonight's foreign policy debate is a perfectly appropriate opportunity for President Obama and Mr. Romney to debate the issue further.   While the impact of failed US immigration policy is felt most strongly at the community level and must be resolved by a domestic policy agenda that provides equality for this generation's immigrants, immigration itself is a quintessential transnational issue that can rightly also be discussed within the context of US foreign policy.  Last Tuesday's superficial exchange about immigration included two revelations that both candidates- and the press- should follow-up on:

In a disappointing repeat of last year's address, President Obama had very little to say on immigration, an issue that is central to the country's future. President Obama boasted about putting more "boots on the border than ever before" while restating his support for the legalization of undocumented youth. His policies are tougher on immigration than any other president's in history, yet he still claims to support change.