Sergio Bustos
Republic Washington Bureau
Jan. 30, 2004 12:00 AM
In tackling the politically charged issue of immigration, the field of Democrats
vying for President Bush's job must figure out a solution acceptable to Arizonans
like the Rev. Robin Hoover of Tucson and Rusty Childress of Phoenix.
That won't be easy. Both men are not happy with plans and proposals put forth by Bush and Democrats to handle border security and illegal immigration, backyard issues for many Arizonans who in recent years have seen a surge of undocumented immigrants cross the border from Mexico.
All seven Democratic candidates are well aware of the complex debate surrounding illegal immigration, but also understand that it is a sensitive issue to Hispanics. About one in six registered Arizona voters is Hispanic.
And Arizona's primary Tuesday poses the first true test of candidates' strength in a Western state with a significant Hispanic population, about one in four.
Hoover, founder of Tucson-based Humane Borders, wants the federal government to legalize the country's undocumented immigrants, demilitarize the Southwest border, raise the number of visas issued to Mexican citizens and invest in Mexico to help its struggling economy.
Childress is spearheading Protect Arizona Now, a group pursuing a ballot initiative to ensure that undocumented immigrants not be allowed to vote or receive public services. He said the country first must gain control of its borders before rewriting its immigration laws. He wants more law enforcement on the border, stricter enforcement against employers who hire undocumented immigrants and an aggressive deportation process to track down undocumented immigrants.
The roots of the problem in Arizona can be traced to the early 1990s when the Clinton administration successfully steered undocumented border-crossers away from San Diego and El Paso, by hiring thousands of agents to patrol those areas. Smugglers and undocumented immigrants then sought other entry routes. Arizona, with its vast and desolate desert, offered an ideal but dangerous alternateroute. Last year, 205 migrants died crossing the border.
Word spread fast. Apprehensions in Arizona are the highest of any other state, making it the illegal gateway of choice for millions of undocumented immigrants, most of whom are Mexican.
Over the years, millions of people have made the illegal journey across Arizona's border, fueling the record growth of undocumented immigrants nationwide.
An estimated 8 million to 10 million undocumented immigrants now live in almost every corner of the country, working as roofers, housekeepers, dishwashers and in scores of other low-paying jobs.
The rise in their numbers has continued throughout the past decade, even though the Bush administration has added enforcement. The number of agents in Arizona, for example, is 1,800, up from 800 in 2000.
Most Democrats in the race for the nomination for president, with the exception of former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, have pledged to stay the same course.
Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman said he would add between 2,000 and 3,000 new agents to the Southwest border and invest in new technologies to create "smarter more humane borders."
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards said he, too, would boost the number of border agents, but also would expand legal channels for immigrants to enter the country.
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry does not detail his plans for adding more agents to the border, but said he would not abandon the existing border enforcement strategy. The federal government must "secure our borders so that terrorists do not use our immigration system as a means to enter our country and do us harm," he said.
Dean argues that the United States must reduce the factors prompting so much illegal immigration. He wants more immigration talks with Mexico, home to about seven in 10 undocumented immigrants in the United States.
"In the absence of a clear and imminent threat, I do not support increasing law enforcement," Dean said. "What we need is immigration reform that makes economic and humanitarian sense."
Kucinich also questions the effectiveness of adding more border agents.
"I have concerns that security practices along the border are arbitrary, discriminatory and lead to racial profiling," he said. "What is behind all of this? Fear."
Bush and Democrats do agree the country's immigration system is broken; they disagree on how to fix it.
Bush recently urged Congress to approve a plan that would give temporary visas to foreign workers who have a job or job offer in the United States.
Undocumented immigrants already in the United States would be eligible. But all foreign workers would have to return when their temporary visas expired and would not receive preference for permanent residency.
Arizonans appear open to creation of a temporary foreign-worker program to take away incentives for immigrants to illegally enter the country.
A poll last November by KAET-TV/Arizona State University showed that 59 percent supported the idea, 28 percent opposed it and 13 percent were undecided. But the 409 registered voters polled were not asked if they would approve giving permanent residency to those who receive the temporary visas.
Most of the Democratic candidates back creation of a temporary worker or "guest worker" program, but they insist those immigrants eventually should be admitted into the country as permanent legal residents.
Lieberman is the only candidate with a detailed immigration reform plan. He would offer green cards to undocumented immigrants who can prove they have lived in the country for at least five years, paid taxes and have no criminal record. His temporary-worker plan would allow those who qualify to eventually become permanent legal residents.
"Immigrants should have a fair shot at the American Dream," Lieberman argues.
Kerry said he would push Congress to approve a list of his immigration "priorities" that include allowing undocumented immigrants who meet certain requirements to become legal residents. He has not spelled out those requirements.
Edwards also pledges to provide "a clear path to citizenship" to those undocumented immigrants "who work hard and follow the law." But he isn't specific about the criteria needed to qualify.
Kucinich, retired Gen. Wesley Clark and the Rev. Al Sharpton have said they favor legalizing undocumented immigrants, but none has come forward with specific proposals.
Dean supports legalizing undocumented immigrants who "work hard, pay taxes and otherwise obey the rules." But he, too, is vague on specific requirements.
Neither Bush nor Democrats have fully endorsed a bill introduced last summer by three Arizona GOP lawmakers, Sen. John McCain and Reps. Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake.
Their measure includes a guest-worker program open to foreigners abroad and undocumented immigrants in the United States. Foreign workers would be allowed to work for up to six years. Undocumented immigrant workers would pay a $1,500 fine and be allowed to work at least six years. Both would be eligible for permanent residency.
Lawmakers argue that their proposal would fill low-skill labor needs of businesses, improve national security and reduce migrant deaths on Arizona's border with Mexico.
The illegal traffic along Arizona's border also has cost the state and local communities millions of dollars.
Tens of thousands of migrants caught trying to cross the border end up in state and county jails because the federal government lacks prison beds to house them. State and county governments receive on average about 40 cents on the dollar to keep migrants behind bars; Arizona taxpayers foot the rest of the bill.
The situation strains budgets of hospitals near the border. A study found that undocumented immigrants racked up $190 million in unpaid bills at 77 border hospitals in 2000. Hospitals in Pima County provided $24 million in uncompensated care. Federal law does not allow hospitals to inquire about a patient's income or immigration status.