Thread: Oregon: Consul, not governor, changed position on 'carousel'

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/reg ... st=orlocal

Spokesman says Consul, not governor, changed position on 'carousel'
3/13/2006, 6:43 p.m. PT
By JOSEPH B. FRAZIER
The Associated Press


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The decision for Oregon to drop off of the Mexican Consulate's "carousel," which provides information to Hispanics, followed a shift by the consulate, not by Gov. Ted Kulongoski, a spokesman for the governor said Monday.

The carousel is a popular mobile service that helps immigrants get a "matricula consular," an identification card available to Mexican citizens, documented or not, and explains available government services.

Kulongoski has spoken favorably of the program in the past, but said last week that the state would no longer participate.

Lonn Hoklin, a spokesman for the governor, said the consulate "decided that these carousels must be by invitation only, with participation limited to Mexican nationals."

Hoklin said Mexican nationals aren't the only group entitled to outreach, and the consulate's stance forced the state's hand.

"We as a public agency cannot be as exclusive," he said.

He said the state will go back to holding public events to which all are invited, Spanish-speaking or not, and "will continue to supply printed information to the carousels and anyone who wants it."

Oregon, he said, will keep providing information to foreign residents on topics such as the Oregon Health Plan, for those who are entitled, and the availability of driver's licenses.

Mexico's consul-general to Portland, Fernando Sanchez Ugarte, did not dispute that it has limited the carousels to Mexican citizens, but said it is not a new development.

"About a year ago to give better service and security we established a procedure of making appointments" at the sessions, he said Monday.

"We limited it to 150 each so people would be sure to get service."

He said those seeking appointments are asked what they want.

"A Guatemalan would have nothing to do with the Mexican Consulate," he said. "The mobile service is an event of the Mexican Consulate. The focus is on Mexican citizens."

Kulongoski's decision to back away from the carousel comes as the immigration issue has returned to Oregon politics for the first time in decades.

Ron Saxton, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, has taken a hard-line approach in his campaign, saying he would withhold state services to illegal immigrants and push for their deportation.

Saxton says it comes down to "illegal is illegal," and undocumented immigrants strain scarce state resources.

At a debate Monday, candidates were asked if Oregon should stop educating children of illegal immigrants. Only Saxton said it should.

Advocates for Hispanics in Oregon say many of Oregon's illegal immigrants, who may number more than 150,000, pay taxes, tend not to get benefits other taxpayers do and perform jobs that others don't want.

good that someone is half awake in oregon- the last paragraph is the usual pro illegal lies and crap