Thread: AZ lawmaker criticized for deportation and comments

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stor ... from_rss=1

A leading conservative Republican voice and business adversary in the immigration debate is in some hot water for supporting the mass deportation of illegal immigrants and referring to a 1950's era deportation program called operation w e t b a c k.

State Rep. Russell Pearce, a Mesa Republican and leading get-tough advocate on immigration, referred to the program including the term w e t b a c k during a radio interview with KJZZ-FM radio.

Pearce favors a get-tough approach to the Mexican border including revoking the business licenses of employers caught hiring illegals and deporting undocumented migrants already in the U.S.. There are more than 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.

The term w e t b a c k is a derogatory term for Mexicans but was also the name of a mass deportation program implemented by the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s.

Democrats are upset with the use of the term and the idea of mass deportations and want other GOP leaders to take Pearce to task.

"This plan is nothing short of ludicrous. The mass deportation of 11 million individuals would be logistically impossible and unrealistic," said state Rep. Amanda Aquirre, D-Yuma.

Pearce also is backing Republican Len Munsil's gubernatorial challenge to Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano. Conservatives -- including Pearce and Munsil -- say Napolitano has been weak on immigration.

Republican Party officials declined comment and Munsil could not immediately be reached for comment.

"This plan is nothing short of ludicrous. The mass deportation of 11 million individuals would be logistically impossible and unrealistic," said state Rep. Amanda Aquirre, D-Yuma.

Yep, just about as logistically impossible and unrealistic as the mass invasion of 11 million individuals into the U.S.

"This plan is nothing short of ludicrous. The mass deportation of 11 million individuals would be logistically impossible and unrealistic," said state Rep. Amanda Aquirre, D-Yuma.

Once again, we see that George Bush and the Democrats are not only on the same side of an issue, they're even using the same talking points.

My heart goes out to Russell Pearce, his son was killed by an illegal alien.

"This plan is nothing short of ludicrous. The mass deportation of 11 million individuals would be logistically impossible and unrealistic," said state Rep. Amanda Aquirre, D-Yuma.

Why wouldn't it work...I am with him...I willing to help