Thread: Arizona's election results mean immigration still a key issu

Arizona's election results mean immigration still a key issue
100 comments
by Daniel González - Nov. 6, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

The re-election of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas keeps the issue of illegal immigration at the forefront of Arizona politics, even though it has fallen off the national radar.

"Thank goodness we still have great men in power. . . . At least they will help keep Phoenix safe," said Bill Chenausky, 41, of Phoenix.

Chenausky said he voted for Arpaio and Thomas because he is frustrated with illegal immigration and they seem to be the only ones doing anything about it.
Both Arpaio and Thomas vowed to continue to combat illegal immigration, and they suggested they may even step up their efforts in light of their victories.

But the prospect of a new level of immigration enforcement disturbs civil-rights advocates.

"These (Arpaio and Thomas) are folks who have terrorized our community," said Raul Yzaguirre, the former president of the National Council of La Raza, a Latino civil-rights organization, and now a professor at Arizona State University.

Yzaguirre said Tuesday's election results show that voters in Arizona remain deeply frustrated over illegal immigration.

"I thought the pendulum was swinging the other way," he said.

In addition to the incumbents' victories, voters in Arizona also rejected Proposition 202, a measure backed by business groups that would have weakened aspects of the state's tough employer sanctions law.

Despite the votes, some experts say it would be wrong to interpret them as simply an endorsement of the sheriff's immigration crackdowns, which have bitterly divided the community, spurred civil rights lawsuits and ignited accusations of racial profiling.

Although the crackdowns clearly helped Arpaio and Thomas win votes, other factors also played a significant role in their victories, experts say.

"It's important not to jump to conclusions. It may or may not be a mandate on illegal immigration," said Rodolfo Espino, a political science professor at ASU.

For example, Arpaio and Thomas both had the advantage of name recognition and incumbency. Their main Democratic opponents - former Buckeye Police Chief Dan Saban, who ran against Arpaio, and Phoenix attorney Tim Nelson who ran against Thomas - were not well known, Espino said.

Phoenix pollster Earl de Berge said Arpaio's victory had more to do with his longstanding popularity with voters as a tough-on-crime sheriff.

"I don't think it's a statement on his immigration enforcement," de Berge said.

In the county attorney race, "a complete unknown was trying to overcome the incumbent. That's a very hard thing to do," de Berge said.

De Berge said the defeat of Proposition 202 also indicates that voters were not necessarily in a mood to crack down on illegal immigrants. Television advertisements portrayed the measure as a way to toughen immigration laws. "The public said, 'We've had enough of that,'" de Berge said.

Over the past year, Arpaio and Thomas have teamed up to launch a series of immigration-related sweeps and worksite raids that have led to the arrests of several hundred illegal immigrants. Many county residents have cheered the efforts.

Some supporters acknowledge reservations, however. Chenausky, for example, said he has been turned off by some of Arpaio's immigration raids, which he said seemed aimed more at drawing publicity than enforcing immigration laws. He disagreed with a raid that Arpaio conducted in Guadalupe in April, where he said deputies seemed to be stopping Latinos in order to look for illegal immigrants.

"I'm hoping that he continues some immigration enforcement, but I hope he doesn't go overboard," Chenausky said.

Yzaguirre said he is concerned that the current economic downturn could deepen frustration over illegal immigration as more Americans lose their jobs.

"Economic uncertainty also makes people more fearful. People are looking for scapegoats and these folks (illegal immigrants) are easy scapegoats," Yzaguirre said.

Yzaguirre and other immigrant advocates said they are hopeful that President-elect Barack Obama and the Democrat -controlled Congress will pass immigration reforms that will solve illegal immigration.

"At a certain level, (voters) have a right to be frustrated. The current system is not working and we need reform," Yzaguirre said.


www.azcentral.com

Of course Arizona's vote was about illegal immigration, people want enforcement of the laws. We want our Country back!

"These (Arpaio and Thomas) are folks who have terrorized our community," said Raul Yzaguirre, the former president of the National Council of La Raza, a Latino civil-rights organization, and now a professor at Arizona State University.

Anybody want to challenge his role there?

What planet do these people live on? Of course its about illegal immigration. DUH

Originally Posted by Captainron

"These (Arpaio and Thomas) are folks who have terrorized our community," said Raul Yzaguirre, the former president of the National Council of La Raza, a Latino civil-rights organization, and now a professor at Arizona State University.

Anybody want to challenge his role there?

They can go home and protest their civil rights. They have none in America as far as I'm concerned..

"These (Arpaio and Thomas) are folks who have terrorized our community," said Raul Yzaguirre, the former president of the National Council of La Raza, a Latino civil-rights organization, and now a professor at Arizona State University.

Yzaguirre said Tuesday's election results show that voters in Arizona remain deeply frustrated over illegal immigration.

"I thought the pendulum was swinging the other way," he said.

Au contraire, mssr. laratza tool. Illegal aliens are the ones terrorizing American communities and the Arizona community has spoken and they are fed up.

Arizona voters WANT enforcement and that's why Sheriff Joe won. Arizona voters WANT deportations to continue. Arizona voters do NOT want illegal aliens in their state. Don't know how much clearer they can get.

So I suggest you get started helping them find their way to their home countries, instead of encouraging them to continue breaking our laws. Better yet, go with them and help them improve their own societies.

The more jobs lost and the economy goes down, the more the American citizen will clamor for more border security and enforcement of our immigration laws.

Obama has a huge dilemma. Economy and American jobs vs illegals taking jobs, vs killing the coal industry.

So what does Pelosi do she announces today she wants to stop the raids. This woman is living in denial.

This yahoo certainly has his head firmly planted in the sand! I'm roaring laughing reading what he has to say.
Yeah, right, prop 202 was defeated because all the citizens of Ariz have suddenly become overjoyed with bringing in millions more illegal immigrants. Hey, de Berge, would you share with me whatever it is you've been smoking?? It's obviously VERY good!