Thread: TX-White and Perry spar on border crime and immigration

White and Perry spar on border crime and immigration
4:45 PM Thu, Mar 25, 2010
Wayne Slater


There's a reason that Rick Perry and Bill White are out front and swinging in the governor's race on the issue of border crime and immigration. Immigration's a big issue among Texas voters. University of Texas pollster Daron Shaw says in some states, immigration is down the list of issues most important to voters. But in Texas? Shaw says it's second -- "and not that far behind jobs and employment." Moreover, Shaw says Texans' understanding of the issue is pretty sophisticated. Tougher immigration policy isn't the product of xenophobia but of an understanding of how education and health care have been burdened, especially along the border. It's not about immigrant bashing. It's about controling the border. It's about facts.

To that end, Perry and White are battling over the facts in the border immigration debate. On his campaign web site, Perry says a lot about his efforts to stem the flow of undocumented workers and guard against any spillover of crime from Mexico -- including a claim that his border-security efforts have produced "an average of 65 percent reduction of all crime, including rape, murder, human trafficking and narcotics smuggling in our border communities." Not even close.

Total crime rates in the 14 Texas counties bordering Mexico dropped 3% between 2005 and 2008. And total crime in unincorporated areas has actually risen nearly 4 percent, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. And White, on his web site, is calling Perry on it. Perry spokesman Mark Miner says the governor's crime figures refer to select drops in crime in some communities where the governor has targeted law enforcement.

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/ ... order.html

Quote:
"Moreover, Shaw says Texans' understanding of the issue is pretty sophisticated. Tougher immigration policy isn't the product of xenophobia but of an understanding of how education and health care have been burdened, especially along the border. It's not about immigrant bashing. It's about controling the border. It's about facts."

Reply:
And I think this is far more true throughout the country than American citizens are given credit for.

This is definitly not just a border issue any longer.