Advertisement

Governors Stay Focused on the Border

Share
From Associated Press

A growing number of governors -- from along the border and beyond -- are sharpening their complaints about the flood of immigrants pouring into their states, pushing the Bush administration and Congress for action.

Republicans and Democrats on Sunday said they planned to bring the concerns to President Bush and his Cabinet in private meetings this week.

“This is a national issue,” said Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, where 500,000 attempts to illegally cross the border were turned back last year. It isn’t clear how many people made it across the Mexico-Arizona border, but nationally there are an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants.

Advertisement

“We’re absorbing through taxpayer dollars the incarceration costs, healthcare costs, education costs,” said Napolitano, a Democrat.

Immigration was not the only contentious issue for the more than 40 state leaders gathered for the winter meeting of the National Governors Assn. The governors also hope to draw attention to the National Guard, Medicaid and welfare.

Bush was host to the governors at a formal White House dinner Sunday.

In states as far from the southern border as Utah, Missouri, Tennessee and Vermont, governors said, immigrants have been costing them money and spurring legislation. All agreed the solution’s key was in Washington, and they hoped to provide a push as Congress weighed several competing bills.

“It’s important to come together as governors with a single voice to give some direction,” said Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. of Utah. “We deal with these issues day in and day out.”

Western governors have put together a plan that asks for tougher border enforcement that makes better use of technology; improvements in the visa system; adoption of a guest-worker program; and collaboration with Latin American countries to tackle the economic causes that send millions north looking for work.

“The notion of being opposed to it, but turning a blind eye to it, doesn’t make sense,” said Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee.

Advertisement

The pressure has been rising in recent months.

In Texas, there was an armed standoff last month between state authorities and apparent drug smugglers wearing Mexican military-style uniforms.

In Minnesota, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty wants the state to track illegal immigrants and fine employers who knowingly hire them. Last year, illegal immigration spurred Napolitano and Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico to declare states of emergency in border counties.

At the same time, governors warn that harsh measures alone would cause damage to many states, especially where agriculture depends on migrant labor.

“Our industry really relies on foreign workers to be successful,” said Republican Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont, where low unemployment and an aging population made it hard to find workers for the state’s dairy farms.

Two years ago, Bush laid out guidelines for a temporary worker program, but the 2004 elections made the administration and some in Congress reluctant to address it.

The House passed an immigration enforcement bill last year that called for building fences on the U.S.-Mexico border, allowing local law officials to enforce immigration laws, and requiring employers to verify the legal status of their employees.

Advertisement

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has told lawmakers the Senate would begin considering immigration legislation March 27, but Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has predicted the chamber would not consider the issue until at least April.

The governors also had concerns that a Pentagon plan to restructure the Army National Guard would leave the states ill-equipped to respond to disasters and emergencies. All 50 governors signed a letter to Bush this month opposing the plan.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is to discuss the concerns with the governors today.

Advertisement