Kyl pushes for $2 billion to boost immigration law enforceme
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The Business Journal of Phoenix - 1:56 PM MST Wednesday
by Mike Sunnucks
Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl is pushing for $2 billion in new federal money to reimburse states for the costs of jailing illegal immigrants and to implement electronic systems to better verify the immigration status of prospective workers for U.S. companies.
The Kyl-back money also would go toward hiring 3,000 federal personnel to inspect work sites and investigate employers accused of unlawfully hiring illegal immigrants. It would increase the number of federal detention beds to house criminal illegal immigrants.
The funding is part of current budget plans being worked on by Congress.
Kyl said the increased money and enforcement is necessary for any comprehensive immigration package to be successful and workable.
"Any immigration bill that passes Congress this year will fail unless we have the interior enforcement mechanisms and personnel in place to enforce the laws," said Kyl.
There are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. and the issue is a top security, law enforcement and economic matter in Arizona and other border states.
Arizona is a top crossing point into the U.S. for illegal immigrants, drug traffickers and other smugglers from Mexico. Migrant and illegal immigrant labor are important aspects of the state economy with undocumented workers heavy in sectors such as construction, food services, farming and hospitality.
Kyl faces a tough re-election challenge this fall from Valley real estate developer and former Arizona Democratic Party chairman Jim Pederson.
Democrats and Pederson argue that Kyl has not done enough in past years to secure border security and immigration funding including for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP)
"Let's face facts. Kyl has not fought hard enough to bring SCAAP funds back to Arizona. Arizona has had a SCAAP invoice waiting to be paid for months," said Mario Diaz, Pederson's campaign manager. "Kyl simply has not done enough. He has been in Washington for 20 years, and Arizona still has a serious immigration problem. Let's see if he can finish the job and get the money back to Arizona where it belongs," Diaz said.
Republicans counter that Kyl has been working to toughen up immigration law enforcement and border security and has been working with Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Diane Feinstein, D-Calif. on issues related to immigration, border security and federal help for states on those fronts.
Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano also has been critical of the Bush administration for not moving fast enough to improve border security including paying for the state to send National Guard troops to the border.
Napolitano has been in discussions with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld regarding federal funding for state troops. The governor also is scheduled to meet later this month with Mexico's homeland security chief. She also has formed an intelligence partnership with the governors of California, Texas and New Mexico.
There have been worries that Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups could enter the U.S. via the Southwestern border for a major domestic attack.
