Posted: Tuesday, 24 February 2009 10:31AM

Immigration Is Big Topic As 5th Cong. Dist. Candidates Turn Out

Craig Dellimore, Political Editor Reporting
WBBM Newsradio 780


CHICAGO (WBBM) - There's just a week to go before the primary election to pick the Republican and Democrat candidates for the Congressional seat vacated by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Most of the crowded field turned out for a candidates forum on the Northwest Side last night.

Immigration was a major topic of the forum at Northeastern Illinois University, with Democratic candidates--like State Rep. John Fritchey--all saying they favor some path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

"How we're going to get there I think is very easy. I do think we need comprehensive reform, I do think we need to increase the number of guest worker visas. I think we need faster processing for people that are here."

Fellow state lawmaker Sara Feigenholtz says what's needed is courage.

"It's time in Washington that Democrats and Republicans work together and stop treating this like it's the third rail of politics."

Alderman Patrick O'Connor sought to use his City Council experience to distinguish himself.

"In the education committee which I chaired for 24 years, we ensured that the Chicago Public Schools do not use status as an opportunity to discriminate against individuals."

County Commissioner Mike Quigley took a similar path.

"I sponsored a measure with Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado to create an immigrant protection ordinance in our Cook County system."

Several neighborhood groups sponsored the forum.

There are about a dozen Democrats in the 5th District race.
Frank Annunzio led off the discussion on immigration reform calling for a path to citizenship. "I believe that the roughly 12 million undocumented immigrants should be fast-tracked to citizenship."

Dr. Paul Breyer agrees:

"Things that I would oppose in this would be the raids that we just heard about today. Those are wrong and I would fight to end those."

Jan Donnatelli displayed her knowledge of the district:

"As much as 48.5 percent of our district speaks a language other than English at home so this question is absolutely critical to this district."

Tom Geoghegan focused on education for immigrants:

"We need a statutory right that all immigrant children here in this country, whether their parents are undocumented or not, have a right to attend public education."

Most of the Republicans running for the seat formerly held by Rahm Emanuel said they, too, favor a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, in varying degrees.

Tom Hanson drew a line, saying he's not for amnesty, but does favor Sen. John McCain's proposals for a path to citizenship.

"I'm not for amnesty, but I think there's a process that we can have. John McCain presented it where they'd have an opportunity to become a citizen."

Greg Bedell wants to slow immigration to this country, by helping other nations so immigrants will be less driven to come here.

"I would take the money that is being used right now to do these raids and change it and put it in our development fund so that we can work with countries to make it less of a need for them to leave."

Daniel Kay wants to streamline immigration office operations.

"Returning to a sponsorship program wouldn't be the worst thing either. You have somebody who is an established American sponsoring somebody who's not."

But, Republican Jon Stewart does favor amnesty.

"Why? We need to take their money, tax it, put it into the government rolls so we can have them help pay for the health care and the education that we are giving them.

Green Party candidates tried to grab the spotlight at last night's crowded forum at Northeastern Illinois University.

On immigration, Matt Reichels took the bold approach, saying he's for blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants.

"We have to address the cause of the wild immigration and this means stopping this right-wing, neo-liberal economic regime, repealing NAFTA, shutting down the WTO."

Mark Fredrickson was less specific.

"At some point we have to define a law and decide to enforce it and I offer that for your consideration as we try to figure out what that law should be."

Deb Gordils gave her answer in Spanish for the diverse audience.

Simon Rebeiro says he, too, support's amnesty.

"I do believe our borders should be protected, of course, but we need to have a compassionate system."

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