Thursday, January 12, 2006

Governor's border comments fuel concern from some Latinos

BLAKE MORLOCK

Tucson Citizen

Gov. Janet Napolitano's tough stance on border security has drawn praise from advocates of tighter controls, but has some local Latino leaders concerned.

Talk of a strong National Guard presence along the border with Mexico left Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías wishing she'd tone down the rhetoric.

After Napolitano gave an abbreviated version of her State of the State address at the Tucson Convention Center yesterday, Elías was happy she left out reference to more Guard troops at the border.

She included the reference in the version delivered to state legislators Monday.

"The immigration issue is about a comprehensive solution, not just more law enforcement at the border," Elías said.

Monica Contreras, chairwoman of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said she worried about Napolitano's call for stiffer punishment of businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

The burdens are too great on small businesses struggling to find workers, she said.

"Some industries already struggle to find the qualified labor that they need to sustain their business," Contreras said. "And this policy may only make it more difficult for them to access the resources they need."

Napolitano argues that going after illegal immigrants at the border isn't enough.

"It's supply and demand," Napolitano said. "You can attack the supply with law enforcement but unless you attack the demand, you are missing half the equation."

She said Arizona National Guard troops are already at the border; she just wants the federal government to start paying for their deployment.

She stressed that divisiveness can get in the way of finding solutions.

That was the kind of talk Elías preferred.

"Her last statement about building bridges across communities is a much better way to look at it," Elías said.