Napolitano expresses concern about federal inaction on immigration

The Business Journal of Phoenix - 1:06 PM MST
Wednesday, March 14, 2007by Mike SunnucksThe Business Journal

Congress may not take action this year on immigration and the Mexican border despite the change in party control, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano said Wednesday raising concerns about such inaction.

The Democratic governor criticized the Republican-controlled Congress for failure to address the issue in previous years. Democrats won control of Congress in the November elections and immigration reform and guest worker supporters were optimistic that the change would get the ball rolling on immigration reform.

Most Democrats, President Bush, business groups and moderate Republicans -- including Arizona Sen. John McCain -- support a guest worker program and a legal path for some illegals already in the U.S. But that position faces opposition from conservative Republicans opposed to amnesty. Democratic congressional members also have been focused on other issues ranging from Iraq to the Walter Reed Medical Center scandal.

Napolitano said she is concerned federal lawmakers will follow past precedent and put off action on immigration. "I am worried about that," the governor said at her weekly press briefing Wednesday.

The governor also talked about immigration at recent Democratic congressional retreat in Williamsburg, Va.

In addition, state Democratic lawmakers announced Wednesday that they will meet with Arizona congressional members on the issue.

There are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. and Arizona is prime entry point from Mexico for undocumented workers, smugglers, drug cartels and others.


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