There is a widespread perception that undocumented immigrants increase crime, as demostrated by the poll at the right. This is a significant factor in many people’s feeling that the social order is under threat by undocumented immigration, and is thus a major problem for any Democrat working to advance the cause of reasonable immigration reform. … Read more
A Blog For Arizona Exclusive Ed. – I’m pleased to present readers with a guest essay from Karl Reiner. Karl recently published a great guest opinion in the Arizona Daily Star about the issue of immigration. I thought it was insightful and well-reasoned, but far too short. I asked Mr. Reiner if he would be … Read more
Link: Largest Protest Ever in Los Angeles. Link: Biggest Protests in Chicago History. The GOP’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and policy proposals may be awakening a sleeping giant of the American electorate. Latinos have consistently been less engaged in politics than average, as measured by voter registration and turn-out. The GOP’s punative proposals for immigration, such as … Read more
Senator Bill Frist outlined the contents of his immigration proposal: Over the next six years, my bill will add nearly 15,000 additional border protection agents to augment the 20,000 Customs and Border Protection agents already on the job (2,400 new agents annually) Specifically authorizes 1,250 border agents and 1,250 port-of entry inspection agents Requires Defense … Read more
There has been some talk about differences between two key Arizona Democrats, Napolitano and Grijalva, over strategy and policy concerning border reform. The dust emanates from the AZ Daily Star’s recent interview with Grijalva and some comments made to Bajo El Sol. I wasn’t very clear on what the hubbub was about, so I went back and read the interview more carefully. Because I overlooked some of the implications, I thought it might be useful if I posted what I found for others.
Grijalva is clearly very annoyed, but it is because he is concerned that the Governor’s proposal could harm efforts at comprehensive border reforms, not so much because he opposes her specific policy. He sees a prominent border-state Democratic Governor stepping up with a purely enforcement policy as a betrayal of the political goals of the Hispanic community. He clearly thinks she went off the Democratic message of comprehensive border reform. Let me quote at length from the interview.