LOCAL ELECTIONS / L.A. MAYOR : Woo Seeks to Deport Illegal Immigrants Charged With Crimes

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Michael Woo, continuing his efforts to sharpen his image on law and order issues, Saturday called for the deportation of illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes.

Woo insisted that it was not the first time he has made the statement, but it contrasts markedly with his rhetoric during the primary campaign. At that time, he frequently accused another candidate of fomenting divisiveness among ethnic groups when that candidate called for deportation of illegal immigrant gang members charged with crimes.

Woo made his remarks Saturday as he discussed the issues of the race with customers at the Farmers Market in the Fairfax district.

Pressed for specifics at a news conference later in the day, Woo was vague on how he would carry out the deportation policy. He acknowledged having supported a city policy that limits the ability of the Los Angeles Police Department to work with the Immigration and Naturalization Service in the apprehension of illegal immigrants. Woo said he did not know whether, under the policy, officers could refer criminal defendants to the INS before they were tried.

“I think the policy should be that when people are charged with felonies or serious misdemeanors, they shouldn’t be kept here in the city. They should be deported. In terms of exactly how we would do that in terms of policy, that is something that would have to be worked out,” Woo said.

Jadine Nielsen, campaign manager for Woo’s rival, attorney-businessman Richard Riordan, said Woo’s deportation plan contradicts the spirit of his earlier campaign. “This is one more example of Woo’s hypocrisy. How can voters be expected to trust him as mayor when he changes his mind almost daily on issues like ethics reform, gun control and safety on our streets?”

The main point of Woo’s news conference was to showcase an endorsement from Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer.

Her endorsement followed Friday’s announcement of support by Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) and is part of the mayoral candidate’s strategy of highlighting backing by Democrats in a city that is predominantly Democratic.

Boxer used the occasion to attempt to link Riordan with anti-abortion extremists.

“Now I want you to imagine when clinic violence erupts and doctors and nurses and women are threatened, stalked or attacked, and it is time for local authorities to take action,” Boxer said. “Imagine having as mayor Richard Riordan, who funded the Right to Life League, an extreme group which has organized hundreds of clinic blockades.

“Imagine having as mayor Richard Riordan, who contributed thousands to Americans United for Life, the legal arm of the anti-choice movement.

“Now, I believe surrogates of right-to-life groups he has supported are placing acid through clinic doors or stalking abortion providers and harassing their families. Richard Riordan should not be rewarded for supporting these militant people.”

A foundation established by Riordan contributed $10,000 to Americans United for Life. According to copies of records of the foundation’s contributions, provided by the Woo campaign, Riordan’s foundation also gave $250 in 1987 to the Right to Life League of Southern California. Members of that organization have taken part in efforts to block access to abortion clinics, although Boxer presented no evidence that the group was involved in the violent activities she described.

Campaign spokesmen for Riordan said they were not aware of any contributions to the Right to Life League. Riordan released a statement to the press, making no mention of the contributions, but saying he strongly favors a woman’s right to have an abortion:

“I am absolutely pro-choice. I believe the government has no business in a woman’s right to choose. If anyone breaks the law and interferes with a woman’s access to family planning clinics, I will personally phone Chief Willie Williams and have him enforce the law.”

Boxer also sought to fortify Woo’s message that Riordan is a Reagan Republican whose policies would punish the poor.

“After all, Ronald Reagan, with the help of people like Richard Riordan, led us into the ‘80s, the decade of neglect,” Boxer said. “And nowhere do we see the fruits of the Reagan-Riordan policies than in Los Angeles, where the federal government withdrew from partnership with the cities.”

Riordan is a Republican who during the primary was endorsed by Reagan. Much as Woo is now trying to alert Democratic voters of his support by prominent Democrats such as Boxer, Riordan sought to tell Republican voters of his support by Reagan and other prominent Republicans.