Gov. Proposes $100 Million Border Plan; Expanded Nat'l Guard Presence

PHOENIX (By Jacques Billeaud, AP) January 10, 2006 — Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano proposed a $100 million plan Monday to lessen Arizona's vast problems from illegal immigration and is asking the military to pay for stationing National Guard troops at the state's porous border with Mexico.

The governor also vowed to punish businesses that continue to break the law by hiring illegal immigrants, crack down on the smugglers and fraudulent documents used by border-crossers and provide money for immigration efforts by state and local police.

"We are going to step up and protect our citizens when the federal government fails them - but this is a federal problem, and we expect the federal government to do its part," Napolitano told lawmakers on the opening day of the Legislature.

Arizona, the busiest illegal entry point along the country's southern border, serves as a hub for smugglers who transport illegal workers across the country.

Even though immigrants provide the economy with cheap labor, Arizona and other border states shoulder huge health care and education costs for illegal workers and their families.

Public pressure is mounting for state politicians who face re-election races this year to confront the problems, even though immigration has long been considered the sole province of the federal government.

The state already has about 170 National Guard troops stationed at the border, assisting federal and state officers with communications, fence construction and anti-drug efforts.

Napolitano proposed extending the National Guard's border efforts to have troops work at border crossing points, assist with cargo inspection and operate mobile observation points so they could report suspicious activity.

Lt. Col. Mark Ballesteros, a Defense Department spokesman, declined to comment on Napolitano's request. The governor said she is awaiting on a response to her request from the military.

Napolitano provided few details of her other immigration plans.

An estimated 3,500 to 4,000 people gathered outside the Capitol on Monday to protest what they said was an anti-immigrant sentiment at the Legislature, which last year considered two dozen immigration proposals. Only a few became law.

Gabriel Cruz, a 26-year-old college student who participated in the protest, said he understands the idea behind Napolitano's proposal to provide police agencies with more money to confront illegal immigration, yet he couldn't help but think the governor was motivated by politics.

"In a way, I think she was pandering to voters," Cruz said. "It's a political year. She needs to get re-elected. She's catering to the right."

Republicans say the Democratic governor has been trying to paper over a weak record on immigration.

Napolitano, who freed up a modest amount of money last year to help authorities confront illegal crossings, said she's trying to lessen a problem that the federal government hasn't adequately confronted.

"We are very pleased to see that she sees this as the kind of emergency that really needs the resources put behind it," said Senate President Ken Bennett, R-Prescott.

Still, Bennett said some of Napolitano's proposals are similar to ideas pushed by Republicans in recent years.

Republican also are seizing on the public's frustration with illegal immigration.

They have proposed a special squad of the state police to focus on border problems, limits on the government benefits available to immigrants and cutting off shared state income tax revenue for cities that discourage police officers from inquiring about people's immigration status.

Elias Bermudez, the chief organizer of the protest outside the Capitol, said putting more money into border enforcement won't fix the problem, which he believes can be overhauled only by the federal government.

"Our people are not going through the fences (at the border) because they don't want to come here illegally," Bermudez said. "They are going through the fences because this country doesn't have the law that allows them to come through the port of entry."