Rhetoric on a Hot-Button Issue : Politics colors Wilson’s letter on immigration

In a long career of public service, dating back to when he was San Diego’s mayor, Gov. Pete Wilson has come forward with some useful proposals for dealing with the impact of illegal immigrants on California and its cities. Sadly, the “open letter” on illegal immigration he sent President Clinton on Monday contains few of those solid ideas. As a result, it comes across less as a substantive policy proposal than a transparent appeal for votes by a politician facing a tough reelection campaign.

It is noteworthy, for example, that the single most constructive policy proposal Wilson has made about immigration is buried at the bottom of Page 4 in a single-spaced letter of less than five full pages. Only at that point does he remind Clinton that Congress has shirked its responsibility to reimburse states heavily affected by immigration--California foremost among them--for the costs of providing social services to immigrants. That is a valid point, which this newspaper has endorsed wholeheartedly in the past.

The same cannot be said for some of Wilson’s other proposals, most of which are variations of ideas put forth by other politicians and immigration restrictionists. Most of these recycled anti-immigrant proposals are just mean-spirited attempts to strike out at illegal immigrants rather than serious policy prescriptions that might actually help solve immigration problems.

In fact, the most interesting thing about Wilson’s letter is the manner in which it was made public. On the same day the governor sent it to the White House, he revealed its contents in a heavily promoted press conference. Wilson followed that up with a series of full-page newspaper ads that reprinted the letter, which is written in alarmist language--in itself a surprise, given Wilson’s normally low-key demeanor.

Clearly, the governor is concerned about his low approval rating (only 15% in some polls) as he heads toward 1994’s gubernatorial election. He wants the public, which is deeply worried about California’s ongoing economic troubles, to see him doing something about illegal immigration, a hot-button issue for many voters. Sound politics, as far as that goes. But no basis on which to develop a farsighted immigration policy.

Thankfully, because immigration is not a state responsibility but a federal one, Wilson will have little to do with how the issue is dealt with. That will be up to Clinton and members of Congress, like California’s Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has already come forward with more balanced immigration reform proposals. If federal officials draw anything from Wilson’s unfortunate letter, let it be evidence of how frustrated even normally reasonable people are about immigration issues. Congress must move forward with its important work with all deliberate speed.