Immigration News Roundup 4/13/06

The Arizona legislature is up to their dirty tricks again

Two days after a big immigration march in Phoenix, the Arizona Legislature approved legislation to make illegal immigrants subject to the state's criminal trespassing law.

The Senate approved the bill on a 17-12 vote yesterday and the House followed with a 33-27 vote, with both Republican-led chambers voting nearly along party lines.

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The bill (SB1157) was sent to Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano. She declined yesterday to say what she'll do with it but her office later released letters from 12 law enforcement groups and officials, including sheriffs of three border counties, urging her to veto the bill.

The bill "represents an enormous unfunded obligation for state, county and local law enforcement," Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada wrote.

I'd like to know how they would decide who should be considered a suspect or not. It's not like skin color would do much good around here, although I bet if they had their wish they would be able to seek credentials for any tierra-colored persons. [insert raised eyebrow scowl here]

On to more positive developments, the protests are being deemed successful at forcing moderation in the debate on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., predicted Tuesday that the heavy, peaceful turnout of hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in Arizona and other cities nationwide will "keep the focus on a possible compromise in the Senate."

"The political realities are that those who are pushing a compromise ... have a bit of momentum on their side," Renzi said. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for example, "is feeling a little wind at his back" in continuing to press for compromise, he said.

McCain vowed to keep working toward a new Senate agreement that would allow eventual legalization of millions of immigrants now in the United States illegally.

Even Senator (blech) Kyl is starting to admit that he isn't going to make his wet-dream of mass expulsion a reality.

Kyl said he's unsure whether his voluntary return idea will survive any compromise that may come when Congress takes up the issue again.

There's a good possibility that immigrant rights marches across the country Monday might encourage Democratic leaders to clear the logjam, Kyl said.

The senator said a compromise should specify that guest workers can work here only on a temporary basis and not provide an automatic path to citizenship for those who sneaked into the country.

Riiiiiiight, because the participants of the marches support your draconian ideas. Quit deluding yourself Senator. Your time for pontification is nearing its end.

What are you hearing in your local media reports?