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Article Last Updated: 09/06/2006 02:54:11 AM PDT

Holiday immigration marches have little effect on lawmakers
House, Senate return from recess this week, grapple with issue
By Michele R. Marcucci, STAFF WRITER


Thousands of people sacrificed Labor Day picnics Monday to march for immigrant rights, hoping that Congress would listen. But the nationwide marches — including gatherings in Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose — seem to have had little impact on those who will decide millions of undocumented immigrants' fate.

Members of the Bay Area's Congressional contingent and their staffers said the marches did little to influence their positions on the immigration debate, which stalled over the House and Senate's vastly different reform bills. Both bodies returned from summer recess this week.

The House bill calls for stronger border security and prosecution of illegal immigrants and those who aid them, while the Senate's proposal includes opportunities for undocumented immigrants to gain legal status. A compromise plan by two Republicans, Indiana Rep. Mike Pence and Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, is also on the table.

"Obviously, any member of Congress needsto pay close attention to what constituents have to say. And when they say it in large numbers, they pay even more attention," said Lynne Weil, spokeswoman for Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, who voted against the House bill. "However, positions aren't formed overnight by crowds. And one event alone is unlikely to change many minds."

One mind unchanged is Rep. Richard Pombo's.

"He stands by his vote on the House bill," said Pombo's spokesman, Lucas Frances. Pombo, R-Tracy, voted for the bill.

But Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, said the marches bolster her position that immigration reform should include both stronger border security and opportunities for undocumented immigrants to legalize their status.

"These immigration marches serve as a solemn reminder of the urgent need for an immigration policy that is comprehensive and fair," Lee said in a statement e-mailed to the paper.

Politics may also render

the debate moot, say some who, like Lee, accuse Republicans of fanning anti-immigrant sentiment to score votes in the November midterm elections.

Here in the Bay Area, it appears unlikely that any Democratic congressional incumbent faces a strong challenge for their seat.

And while anti-incumbent sentiment is rising, several recent polls show general Democratic support outpacing support for Republicans in the upcoming elections.

"The House and Senate have passed significantly different bills and the Republican leadership of the two houses have refused to meet in an effort to rectify the differences. It appears increasingly unlikely that anything will be approved by Congress before the November elections," California Sen.

Dianne Feinstein said in an Aug. 18 speech addressing immigration reform.

A final decision on what do about immigration policy awaits a meeting this week of senior Republicans. But key lawmakers and aides said they now believe it would be politically risky to try to advance an immigration measure. Republicans in both houses have said they will instead focus their efforts on national security issues.

Still, some local immigrant advocates are still hopeful that they are being heard by Congress.

"They just reconvened to look at this legislation," said Terrence Valen of the Filipino Community Center in San Francisco and a march organizer. "We wanted to let them know that we're still here, and we're growing."


Contact Michele R. Marcucci at mmarcucci@angnewsapers.com.



Wire services contributed to this report.