http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/118385

Published: 03.03.2006

Panel assails Napolitano border action
Illegal entrants undeterred, GOP legislator charges
By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
PHOENIX — A legislative panel charged Thursday that the state of emergency Gov. Janet Napolitano declared last year has done little, if anything, to keep people from crossing the border illegally.

The report, written by a Republican who has been critical of the governor, and adopted on a party-line vote by the House Select Committee on Government Operations, Performance and Waste, said there is a "disconnect" between the stated goal of the Democratic governor and her actions.

Rep. John Allen, R-Scottsdale, who chairs the panel, said while Napolitano's emergency declaration mentioned an increase in violent criminal activity due to border crossers, most of the $1.7 million available for grants has gone to dealing with the problems they created rather than preventing their entry into the United States.

"The residents of our border communities are owed an apology for the state's continued inaction," said Allen. He said state leaders "let you down, allowing smugglers and border crossers to turn your quaint communities into dangerous places."

But gubernatorial press aide Jeanine L'Ecuyer said Allen is missing the point. She said the August declaration was designed to help communities deal with violations of state laws committed by border crossers.

L'Ecuyer said it has done that, citing a letter signed by officials of border cities and counties thanking Napolitano for helping their communities deal with the effects of illegal immigration.

And L'Ecuyer said Allen is off-base in arguing that stopping illegal immigration is a state problem.

"The bottom line is the Border Patrol is the prevention role," she said. "The state can't do that."

She said the declaration of emergency was designed solely to help local authorities enforce state laws.

The committee report, coming in an election year, highlights the difference between how some Republican legislators see the state role being versus the governor's vision.

That division was reinforced Thursday when the Senate gave preliminary approval to providing $15 million a year for the next five years to border communities. That money is specifically earmarked to help catch people who are in this country illegally.

There also are pending proposals — including one by Allen — to require the governor to deploy National Guard troops in Southern Arizona to stop people from crossing.

Napolitano's position on what the state should be doing is backed in a separate letter by the three Cochise County supervisor saying "our unified position that border security, enforcement and interdiction are the primary responsibility of the United States and Mexican federal governments."

Allen, however, does not see it that way.

He cited the testimony of Cochise County rancher Roger Barnett, who estimated he has turned over 12,000 border crossers to federal agents during a nine-year span. Barnett has been the target of three lawsuits accusing him of abusing or improperly detaining illegal entrants.

Allen's report said the state "should protect the border with the same fervor that Mr. Barnett has demonstrated in protecting his ranch.