CIR-Lessons from the UEFA Champions League Final

I had a late lunch this afternoon at a nearby restaurant. Over a glass of cold beer, I watched the European Champion League final game between F.C. Barcelona and Manchester United. With me was another immigration attorney and friend who happens to be from Eastern Europe. It was a fascinating game in which Barcelona clearly dominated the game from the beginning to the very last end. Their ball control with exceptional. Manchester United was clearly outmatched.

The first goal was by Samuel Eto'o, the Cameroonian phenom in the 10th minute of the game which set the pace, while Lionel Messi, the Argentine, scored the second goal to seal it. What lessons we can draw from this game for the Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) debate? The answer: When the CIR advocates are ahead of the opposition it is exactly when to push ahead for the second goal to seal the game. There is indeed NO room to rest until the goal is achieved. For CIR, the first goal was the 2008 elections. The second goal has to be the actualization of CIR.

As reported in Politico, the White House has set a meeting on immigration reform on June 8 at the White House with congressional leaders. This follows the May meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus where the President promised to hold form on immigration reform. We cannot rest until the goal is accomplished. Any reader of this blog should call their congressional representatives and express support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Call now and call often. AILA has provided an easy way to contact congressional leaders regarding CIR. Opponents are doing just that. That is the only way our voice can be heard. In the meantime, we should thank those who have shown leadership on CIR, including Senator Schumer who held a hearing on May 20, 2009 on border security. He concluded the hearing promising that the subcommittee intends to hold "comprehensive hearings on…every difficult aspect of immigration reform." This is very much needed!

In the F.C. Barcelona v. Manchester United game, at the 70th minutes of the game, Lionel Messi, the Argentine whiz player of Barcelona scored the second and final goal of the game. CIR advocates have to have the same spirit. We cannot wait for others to do the heavy lifting for us. We have to be involved.

Another lesson is this: in the quest for excellence, the teams sought out talents from all over the world. Barcelona, with its unique international squad, in 2009 won a historic and the most coveted 'El Triple' (triple crown) of: The Spanish League Trophy, The Copa del Rey Cup (Spanish King's Cup) and The European Champions League Trophy, a feat no other Spanish team has ever accomplished. The two goal scorers in this final were not Spanish but they brought joy, pride and excitement to Spain and Spaniards of all backgrounds. Like F.C. Barcelona, every other business will like to be winners as well. The nationality of the workforce should not limit a business' potential.

Peace to all people of good will.