By the time the Arizona primary campaign for governor goes into full swing next year, Congress probably will have passed legislation on illegal immigration. How new immigration law might affect the temperature of the issue in the 2006 gubernatorial race remains to be seen, but currently, according to a recent poll, it is the number one concern among Arizonans.

Governor Napolitano, who has announced she will ask the Legislature to provide funding to fight border-related crime, said that without knowing what Congress might send to the president in the way of immigration reform, it’s hard to say how much of an issue it will be in the governor’s race.

“We have to be very strong and very realistic about immigration,” she said.

U.S. House Republican leaders reportedly will try to pass legislation for tightened border security and tougher immigration enforcement before the end of the year, including tougher sanctions against illegal immigrants, smugglers and employers who hire undocumented workers.

President Bush’s immigration plan would permit some illegal immigrants currently in the U.S. to legally stay for several years as long as they hold jobs that no U.S. citizen wants. The plan would require these immigrant workers to return to their countries after their time in a temporary worker program expires.

Policy makers, candidates weigh in

Arizona’s congressional delegation is at the forefront of proposals to deal with illegal immigration, and Republicans who have filed for governor weighed in on those plans, answering an e-mail questionnaire from Arizona Capitol Times.

Arizona Congressmen Trent Franks and J.D. Hayworth are reported to be in support of a new bill for constructing a security fence along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border, and Mr. Hayworth would increase penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants, end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizens and require U.S. citizens to obtain a new Social Security identification card with a photograph.

But John Greene, one of six Republicans who have filed for the GOP nomination for governor, said, “Sealing the border with thousands of additional agents, concrete posts and other types of fences and obstacles will not work. Coyotes [illegal immigrant smugglers] will learn how to fly helicopters if they have to.”

Don Goldwater, on the other hand, supports new fencing on the border and wants to use “individual violators of our immigration laws to provide the manpower to help build the fence.” He and other candidates support increased penalties for employing illegal immigrants.

Mr. Goldwater called for enforcement of laws prohibiting the hiring of illegal aliens “to prosecute to the full extent of the law businesses that purposely and flagrantly violate immigration laws.”

Said Mr. Greene, “The only way to effectively stop illegal immigration of workers is to take the incentives away from those crossing our borders illegally and from the employers who reap ill-gotten gains by hiring undocumented workers and paying them substandard wages.”

Retired Judge Jan Flórez Smith of Nogales said that if elected governor she would enforce employer sanctions.

“I do not believe the popular myth that legal residents and citizens of our country will not do the jobs that illegal immigrants do,” said Ms. Smith, who has lived near the Arizona-Mexico border for 35 years. “We have tacitly, if not explicably, encouraged businesses to use illegal labor while avoiding paying benefits and taxes.”

While candidate Gary Tupper did not specifically mention employer sanctions, he says workforce issues are dividing society.

“Rarely does a day go by that I do not hear from or of a business person who does not have enough workers. Yet as this debate goes on, more and more American jobs are being out-sourced to countries like India, the Philippines and South Africa.,” he said. “I sense a growing division in our society.”

Mr. Greene and Teresa Ottesen, a college student who has filed for governor, say they agree with penalties for employment of illegal aliens and with Mr. Hayworth’s proposal to end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizens.

“Many illegals are paid no more than what amounts to slave labor wages and become slaves to their employers,” Ms. Ottesen said.

“As governor, I would ensure that all parents will have to prove that their children are U.S. citizens or in the country on a valid visa,” Ms. Ottesen said. “I will not reimburse schools for students that they cannot prove are U.S. citizens.”

U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl’s plan would require illegal immigrants in the U.S. to leave the country and permit them to return legally to work temporarily if there are no U.S. workers available to fill a job. Ms. Ottesen said Mr. Kyl’s plan should be open to anyone of any nation who would like to work in the United States.

Mr. Green said, “Realistically, change may need to be gradual, perhaps over a one-or-two-year period because undocumented workers have become so engrained in certain key industries. The goal is simple, however: There should not be a single undocumented worker in America by 2007.”

Mr. Goldwater said he would work with local business, the federal government and Congress to reduce the waiting period for a green card to weeks, not years.

“My preference is more toward Sen. Kyl’s plan,” Ms. Smith. “I would not support any type of amnesty because we have seen the consequences of the earlier amnesty.”

Mr. Tupper said he supports a guest worker program, with no amnesty

U.S. Sen. John McCain would permit illegal immigrants in the U.S. to pay a fine and apply for a temporary work visa. After a number of years, these immigrants could apply for permanent residence and eventually citizenship.

“Workers with an established history of verifiable employment could pay a fine and continue to contribute to our economic growth,” Mr. Tupper said. “Ultimately, the problem lies in Mexico, in growing poverty and corruption, which does not seem to be adequately addressed.”

Crime related to border crossers

Ms. Napolitano, who is scheduled to visit Mexico in early December, told reporters Oct. 16 state funds are needed in the fight against crime directly or indirectly related to illegal border crossings.

“I want to be very careful about how you guys report this. I believe that local law enforcement has to have the tools to enforce state law,” she said, regarding property theft, human smuggling, drug crimes, prostitution, vehicle theft and identity fraud. “We need the resources in state and local law enforcement to prosecute and imprison.”

Ms. Smith says any person arrested who does not have proper documentation should be turned over to federal authorities and deported.

“Thousands of convicted felons, many found guilty of violent crimes, are on our streets because they have not been deported when released from prison,” she said.

Mr. Greene proposes that the Department of Public Safety form a new division to help secure the border. It would be staffed by active off-duty and retired police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, paramedics, and retired military police and federal agents.

Ms. Ottesen proposes seizure of property acquired in Arizona by illegal immigrants working in the state.

Republican candidate Arthur Ray Arvizu did not respond to the questionnaire on immigration.

A Canyon State Poll last month reported that 34 percent of Arizonans say immigration issues are the number one concern facing Arizona today, Two years ago, Arizonans were more concerned about education and the economy, reported Northern Ar
izona University, which conducted the poll.