http://www.time.com/time/nation/article ... 29,00.html

Monday, Apr. 03, 2006
How to Handle Immigration: The View from Los Angeles
In a TIME interview, LA's Latino mayor praises last week's demonstrations—and supports Kennedy-McCain
By SONJA STEPTOE

As the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles, a city that by some estimates is home to as many as 2 million undocumented workers, Antonio Villaraigosa has a unique perspective on the immigration issue. He spoke to TIME Senior Correspondent Sonja Steptoe about balancing personal and political considerations while setting policy.

TIME: How should the U.S. handle immigration?

Villaraigosa: Our nation, asevery nation around the world does, has every right to enforce our immigration laws and secure our borders. In a nation founded on the rule of law, the idea that you can just break the law without consequences is untenable in our democratic notions of justice. I believe that our immigration laws should focus on a number of issues. I believe that the McCain-Kennedy framework is a good place to start. It includes tougher enforcement, tougher penalties for employers who hire the undocumented, smart border security working in concert and collaboration with our neighbors,and it gives the 11 million immigrants who are here a pathway to citizenship provided they pay a fine, pass a background check and learn to speak English. I think that framework makes a great deal of sense. It also stands in the best tradition of America's values.

What did you think of the immigration rights demonstration on March 25?

I've never been prouder, being the mayor of Los Angeles and having the honor of receiving a half-million people who came to City Hall to stand up for the mainstream values and the best traditions of our America. These people marched peaceably without one single incident. They came with their families, some of whom had served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and most of whom expressed a love for this country and a desire to participate in the American dream. Their message was very clear: The Sensenbrenner legislation [which makes felons of undocumented immigrants and those who aid them] is extreme and divisive and we need to stand with Senator McCain to support comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform that works.

Some people are calling this pro-immigrant movement the next Civil Rights movement and comparing it to the Cesar Chavez crusade. What's your assessment?

The vast majority of the people who come to this country come here to work and come here for better lives for their children. They work in the toughest, dirtiest jobs—jobs that oftentimes most of us wouldn't accept. And they then go through great sacrifice so that one day their children can have a better life. That's central to what our country has been about from its very inception.

The supporters of the Sensenbrenner measure stress the fact that the bill targets people who have come here illegally, and comparisons to previous waves of immigrants are imperfect and inappropriate because of that. They also say their status as illegals justifies what others consider Draconian tactics, such as charging them with felonies. What about that?

As I said, our country has every right to enforce our immigration laws and secure our borders. I support the McCain-Kennedy framework because it ascribes a penalty for coming here illegally. There should be consequences for breaking the law. Those consequences should be proportional, however. To make these people felons because they come here for a better life is Draconian.

Some Latino leaders contend the momentum has shifted to the pro-immigrant forces after the demonstrations. What impact do you think the marches will have on the debate going forward?

The law enforcement professionals whose responsibility it was to keep the public order were almost giddy in their response to how orderly and peaceful that demonstration was. Most of the people I spoke with throughout the week walked away with a very postive reaction to what has now been described as a historical occasion. I think there is a momentum shift that's palpable in part because more and more people realize that there is a sensible bipartisan alternative to legislation that would make 11 million immigrants felons.

Some political analysts say that as a Latino mayor in a large city with so many undocumented workers you have to walk a political tightrope on this issue — not being too preoccupied and identified with ethnic issues, while still showing camaraderie and support for your base and brethren. Do you agree?

I am a third-generation Angeleno, and so by definition I'm a third-generation American. I love this country and am so thankful for all it has given me. Rather than make political calculations I've found that it's important to just do the right thing. I think that in the best tradition of this nation we should provide a pathway to citizenship for people who work here, pay their taxes and live by the rules. I'm not worried about one constituency or the other. So I was honored to receive the 500,000 people who marched to City Hall in peace. But I also made it very clear to the young students [who continued to protest] two days later that it's inappropriate to walk out of school—that while they have every right to protest, they should do it after school, not during school. I learned a long time ago that if you call them as you see them, more often than not, doing the right thing is best.

When you were a high school student, you were in a somewhat analagous situation, participating in student protests during the 1968 Chicano rights movement that is depicted in the current HBO film by Edward James Olmos, Walkout. How do you respond to those who point out that you did the same thing when you were young?

That's a question that's been asked by the students and reporters all week. This was my answer: I particpated in walkouts surrounding the unequal distribution of resources in schools in minority areas some 30 years ago. When I did, I understood then, and I believe now, there were consequences for those actions. What I said to the young people was that I would never discourage their right to protest and the expression of free speech. But that should be done before or after school, not during. I also said that my son participated in the Saturday march. He told me the students from his school were participating and asked if he could join them. I said absolutely. If he had asked me if he could leave school on Monday to do it, I would have said no.

There's talk of a May 1 boycott by immigrant workers and others to show their economic impact and power. Good or bad idea?

I think the most important thing we can do right now is support the McCain-Kennedy framework and to rally the nation around the idea that we need tough, sensible and effective immigration reform. That's the best way to take advantage of the momentum shift taking place across the nation.