refuse_resist
4th May 2005, 11:38
SAN FRANCISCO
'Close the borders,' Schwarzenegger says
In talk to publishers, he urges increased federal enforcement
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged federal officials to beef up enforcement and secure the state's borders against illegal immigrants, saying Tuesday they must clean up a "lax situation" instead of "trying to run the other way."
"Close the borders. Close the borders in California, and all across Mexico and the United States," Schwarzenegger told hundreds of newspaper publishers at Newspaper Association of American convention the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.
"Because I think it is just unfair to have all of those people coming across, and to have the borders open the way it is," the California governor said. "We in California have to still finish the border. That is the key thing -- to have borders and to keep the law, enforce the law."
Margita Thompson, the governor's press secretary, immediately explained that Schwarzenegger has long supported more border security and his statements to "close the border" did not mean to suggest that the governor -- himself an immigrant to the United States -- advocates an end to legal immigration.
Democrats were quick to react to the governor's statement with outrage. Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez issued a statement saying Schwarzenegger should "ratchet down this rhetoric and retreat from this narrow-minded approach to immigration."
Núñez argued that the idea reflects the approach of "political extremists, not rational policy-makers,'" and said that "even President Bush rejects the idea of a closed border with Mexico."
The governor's statements were part of an address to newspaper executives, in which he stalwartly defended his proposed reform agenda, confidently joked about protesters who still dog his tracks, and even continued to tout his withdrawn pension reform ideas.
On illegal immigration, Schwarzenegger -- asked about solutions -- said that "It's a national issue. There's not much we can do here in California."
But he said he supported the idea "to look at all the proposals that are on the table" regarding guest workers, those who enter the country legally each year to work in industries such as agriculture and tourism.
"The Bush administration has talked about what we should do with the people that are undocumented and what we should do about guest workers programs, all of those things," the governor said. "This is a very important debate. It's necessary that we solve the problems, rather than everyone, kind of, trying to run the other way because it's such a hot issue."
But Maria Blanco, of the San Francisco-based Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, said the governor's "pandering" rhetoric to anti-immigrant forces will make it harder for any compromise solution on such a divisive issue.
"He continues to shoot from the hip, which is really becoming a liability for him, This is another step to the right. Because of that, we're really getting polarized again."
Blanco said Schwarzenegger's tone Tuesday was far different from the respectful, positive way he praised immigrants when he sought office during the 2003 recall campaign.
"He will be guaranteed failure if he doesn't take into account the contributions of immigrant laborers in California. These comments are going to get him into huge trouble with the Latino community and the Latino (legislative) caucus, and will only increase the polarization," she said.
At the publishers' gathering, the governor continued to include changes to public employee pension plans -- an idea he publicly withdrew a week ago -- as part of his agenda, along with redistricting, budget caps, and teacher tenure.
All of those components will require "political courage," he said, adding that he wants to get the work done on those changes this year because next year will be "a political year" in Sacramento.
But Schwarzenegger sidestepped questions about whether he will run for re-election next year, saying he is "focused" and working on immediate issues.
Schwarzenegger's appearance, which was not announced in advance, drew about 100 protesters -- mostly nurses, teachers and state workers -- to the Fairmont to protest his reform agenda.
"We made a promise we're going to follow him everywhere he goes ... because the governor is doing everything he wasn't elected to do," said Ruben Garcia, a field representative for the Service Employees International Union Local 790, one of those leading chants in front of the hotel. "He doesn't go anywhere just to talk to real people ... he's a total actor governor."
But inside, the governor appeared in a buoyant mood and even joked about the protesters outside.
"They always think they're going to intimidate me," he told the newspaper publishers. "They have no knowledge of what I'm used to when it comes to protesting. How about in 1986, when I told the Kennedys in Hyannis Port I was marrying Maria? Those were protests, I tell you."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...5/04/20/GOV.TMP (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/04/20/GOV.TMP)
Arnold Schwarzenegger praises Minuteman project
Schwarzenegger says group's patrols against illegal immigrants have been effective. One critic calls remarks 'nothing short of base racism.'
By Peter Nicholas and Robert Salladay, Times Staff Writers
SACRAMENTO — Calling the nation's borders dangerously porous, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday praised the private "Minuteman" campaign that uses armed volunteers to stop illegal immigrants from crossing into the U.S.
Schwarzenegger said in a radio interview that the federal government is failing to secure the border with Mexico, and he cast the hundreds of private citizens who have been patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border since April 1 as a popular response to government inaction.
"I think they've done a terrific job," Schwarzenegger said of the "Minuteman" volunteers, who plan to expand to California in June. "They've cut down the crossing of illegal immigrants a huge percentage. So it just shows that it works when you go and make an effort and when you work hard. It's a doable thing."
The governor added that, "It's just that our federal government is not doing their job. It's a shame that the private citizen has to go in there and start patrolling our borders."
President Bush has denounced the Minuteman volunteers as vigilantes.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) expressed surprise that Schwarzenegger would be "praising efforts by untrained volunteers to patrol the borders. The best course … would be to add an additional 2,000 border patrol agents."
The leader of a Mexican American group called the governor's comments "shameful" and "nothing short of base racism."
"I think we're seeing the real Arnold Schwarzenegger. The mask has now fallen," said Nativo V. Lopez, state national president of the Mexican American Political Assn. "Those of immigrant stock should have no illusions about what his real sentiments and feelings are toward them."
Just last week, Schwarzenegger and his aides sought to clarify his statement to a convention of newspaper publishers that the nation should "close the borders." Before his speech was over, an aide told reporters that Schwarzenegger had meant to say that the U.S. should secure its borders — not shut them down.
Schwarzenegger has frequently sought advice from former Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican who used the issue of illegal immigration to fuel his reelection campaign in 1994. Schwarzenegger also has hired several former Wilson staff members, including his chief of staff, Pat Clarey.
An organizer of what is being called the "Minuteman Project," Chris Simcox, said he welcomed Schwarzenegger's endorsement.
"It's gratifying to see that elected officials are responding to the will of the people," Simcox said in an interview Thursday.
He said there are about 15,000 volunteers who have committed to patrolling the border in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The group is also incorporating, assembling a staff and opening a national fundraising campaign, Simcox said. He added that he planned to call Schwarzenegger.
Volunteers may carry firearms if they choose, he said, but they obey all local laws. Their practice is not to apprehend people but to report instances of illegal crossings, he said.
"We don't involve ourselves in taking the law into our own hands," he said.
Margita Thompson, the governor's press secretary, said: "At this point, the governor does not oppose" the group coming to California.
As far as the charge of racism against the governor, she said: "It's not racist to ask the federal government to enforce its laws. Everyone should be united in wanting to protect our national security."
In his interview with KFI-AM (640), the governor said he was deeply troubled by illegal crossings and what he described as an inadequate federal effort to tighten borders. He said he was especially disturbed by footage he had seen recently on Fox News showing "hundreds and hundreds of illegal immigrants coming across the border."
Schwarzenegger said the nation is sending the wrong signal by making water available to migrants as a convenience.
Humanitarian and religious groups, such as Humane Borders and No More Deaths, provide water for immigrants crossing the border. Federal wildlife officials have provided water stations in the desert for animals but have been criticized for not providing enough for people.
Said Schwarzenegger, "What we're doing basically is, by not really securing the borders, we're saying: 'Look, here are the various water stations. Here are the places where you can cross the borders. Here is where we're going to help you.' The whole system is set up to really invite people to come in here illegally, and that has to stop."
Enrique Morones, president of the Border Angels, an immigrant rights group, responded to the governor's comments. "I assure you, nobody is coming here for the water, and the stations we have set up by various organizations is a humanitarian effort.
"We don't respond to Arnold Schwarzenegger; we respond to a higher authority. We're a nonpolitical, humanitarian organization."
Asked by the hosts of the "John and Ken Show" why Bush called the volunteers vigilantes, Schwarzenegger said: "I really cannot tell you exactly what his thinking is. I'm sure he's trying to solve the problem as well as anyone can. And he maybe has more information than you and I have. Why he has a policy about the border the way he has, I don't know. I've not had that conversation with him.
"But the next time I see him, I will have that conversation."
Schwarzenegger's opponents in the Legislature voiced outrage at the governor's comments.
Aides to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles) said he was furious and promptly called Schwarzenegger to complain.
Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, a Democrat from South Gate, blasted the governor's comments as "scapegoating and immigrant bashing."
"To support vigilantism is completely against the oath he took" to uphold the law, De La Torre said. "It goes way beyond normal law enforcement, normal border patrol jurisdiction. It's just off the charts. For him to say this puts him to the right of President Bush. This is completely out of the mainstream in California."
In the same radio interview, the governor also asked a Spanish-language Los Angeles television station, KRCA-TV Channel 62, to remove a billboard it erected with the words "Los Angeles, Mexico." The governor said such sentiments — implying that Los Angeles was now part of Mexico — would encourage illegal immigration.
Some conservatives welcomed Schwarzenegger's comments.
"Obviously, we are very happy the governor is beginning to side more and more with those of us who have been taking the problems with illegal aliens seriously," said Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, a volunteer group. "The governor gets that illegal aliens are a problem facing California."
Source: LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-governor29apr29,0,2580124.story?coll=la-home-local)
'Close the borders,' Schwarzenegger says
In talk to publishers, he urges increased federal enforcement
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged federal officials to beef up enforcement and secure the state's borders against illegal immigrants, saying Tuesday they must clean up a "lax situation" instead of "trying to run the other way."
"Close the borders. Close the borders in California, and all across Mexico and the United States," Schwarzenegger told hundreds of newspaper publishers at Newspaper Association of American convention the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.
"Because I think it is just unfair to have all of those people coming across, and to have the borders open the way it is," the California governor said. "We in California have to still finish the border. That is the key thing -- to have borders and to keep the law, enforce the law."
Margita Thompson, the governor's press secretary, immediately explained that Schwarzenegger has long supported more border security and his statements to "close the border" did not mean to suggest that the governor -- himself an immigrant to the United States -- advocates an end to legal immigration.
Democrats were quick to react to the governor's statement with outrage. Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez issued a statement saying Schwarzenegger should "ratchet down this rhetoric and retreat from this narrow-minded approach to immigration."
Núñez argued that the idea reflects the approach of "political extremists, not rational policy-makers,'" and said that "even President Bush rejects the idea of a closed border with Mexico."
The governor's statements were part of an address to newspaper executives, in which he stalwartly defended his proposed reform agenda, confidently joked about protesters who still dog his tracks, and even continued to tout his withdrawn pension reform ideas.
On illegal immigration, Schwarzenegger -- asked about solutions -- said that "It's a national issue. There's not much we can do here in California."
But he said he supported the idea "to look at all the proposals that are on the table" regarding guest workers, those who enter the country legally each year to work in industries such as agriculture and tourism.
"The Bush administration has talked about what we should do with the people that are undocumented and what we should do about guest workers programs, all of those things," the governor said. "This is a very important debate. It's necessary that we solve the problems, rather than everyone, kind of, trying to run the other way because it's such a hot issue."
But Maria Blanco, of the San Francisco-based Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, said the governor's "pandering" rhetoric to anti-immigrant forces will make it harder for any compromise solution on such a divisive issue.
"He continues to shoot from the hip, which is really becoming a liability for him, This is another step to the right. Because of that, we're really getting polarized again."
Blanco said Schwarzenegger's tone Tuesday was far different from the respectful, positive way he praised immigrants when he sought office during the 2003 recall campaign.
"He will be guaranteed failure if he doesn't take into account the contributions of immigrant laborers in California. These comments are going to get him into huge trouble with the Latino community and the Latino (legislative) caucus, and will only increase the polarization," she said.
At the publishers' gathering, the governor continued to include changes to public employee pension plans -- an idea he publicly withdrew a week ago -- as part of his agenda, along with redistricting, budget caps, and teacher tenure.
All of those components will require "political courage," he said, adding that he wants to get the work done on those changes this year because next year will be "a political year" in Sacramento.
But Schwarzenegger sidestepped questions about whether he will run for re-election next year, saying he is "focused" and working on immediate issues.
Schwarzenegger's appearance, which was not announced in advance, drew about 100 protesters -- mostly nurses, teachers and state workers -- to the Fairmont to protest his reform agenda.
"We made a promise we're going to follow him everywhere he goes ... because the governor is doing everything he wasn't elected to do," said Ruben Garcia, a field representative for the Service Employees International Union Local 790, one of those leading chants in front of the hotel. "He doesn't go anywhere just to talk to real people ... he's a total actor governor."
But inside, the governor appeared in a buoyant mood and even joked about the protesters outside.
"They always think they're going to intimidate me," he told the newspaper publishers. "They have no knowledge of what I'm used to when it comes to protesting. How about in 1986, when I told the Kennedys in Hyannis Port I was marrying Maria? Those were protests, I tell you."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...5/04/20/GOV.TMP (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/04/20/GOV.TMP)
Arnold Schwarzenegger praises Minuteman project
Schwarzenegger says group's patrols against illegal immigrants have been effective. One critic calls remarks 'nothing short of base racism.'
By Peter Nicholas and Robert Salladay, Times Staff Writers
SACRAMENTO — Calling the nation's borders dangerously porous, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday praised the private "Minuteman" campaign that uses armed volunteers to stop illegal immigrants from crossing into the U.S.
Schwarzenegger said in a radio interview that the federal government is failing to secure the border with Mexico, and he cast the hundreds of private citizens who have been patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border since April 1 as a popular response to government inaction.
"I think they've done a terrific job," Schwarzenegger said of the "Minuteman" volunteers, who plan to expand to California in June. "They've cut down the crossing of illegal immigrants a huge percentage. So it just shows that it works when you go and make an effort and when you work hard. It's a doable thing."
The governor added that, "It's just that our federal government is not doing their job. It's a shame that the private citizen has to go in there and start patrolling our borders."
President Bush has denounced the Minuteman volunteers as vigilantes.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) expressed surprise that Schwarzenegger would be "praising efforts by untrained volunteers to patrol the borders. The best course … would be to add an additional 2,000 border patrol agents."
The leader of a Mexican American group called the governor's comments "shameful" and "nothing short of base racism."
"I think we're seeing the real Arnold Schwarzenegger. The mask has now fallen," said Nativo V. Lopez, state national president of the Mexican American Political Assn. "Those of immigrant stock should have no illusions about what his real sentiments and feelings are toward them."
Just last week, Schwarzenegger and his aides sought to clarify his statement to a convention of newspaper publishers that the nation should "close the borders." Before his speech was over, an aide told reporters that Schwarzenegger had meant to say that the U.S. should secure its borders — not shut them down.
Schwarzenegger has frequently sought advice from former Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican who used the issue of illegal immigration to fuel his reelection campaign in 1994. Schwarzenegger also has hired several former Wilson staff members, including his chief of staff, Pat Clarey.
An organizer of what is being called the "Minuteman Project," Chris Simcox, said he welcomed Schwarzenegger's endorsement.
"It's gratifying to see that elected officials are responding to the will of the people," Simcox said in an interview Thursday.
He said there are about 15,000 volunteers who have committed to patrolling the border in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The group is also incorporating, assembling a staff and opening a national fundraising campaign, Simcox said. He added that he planned to call Schwarzenegger.
Volunteers may carry firearms if they choose, he said, but they obey all local laws. Their practice is not to apprehend people but to report instances of illegal crossings, he said.
"We don't involve ourselves in taking the law into our own hands," he said.
Margita Thompson, the governor's press secretary, said: "At this point, the governor does not oppose" the group coming to California.
As far as the charge of racism against the governor, she said: "It's not racist to ask the federal government to enforce its laws. Everyone should be united in wanting to protect our national security."
In his interview with KFI-AM (640), the governor said he was deeply troubled by illegal crossings and what he described as an inadequate federal effort to tighten borders. He said he was especially disturbed by footage he had seen recently on Fox News showing "hundreds and hundreds of illegal immigrants coming across the border."
Schwarzenegger said the nation is sending the wrong signal by making water available to migrants as a convenience.
Humanitarian and religious groups, such as Humane Borders and No More Deaths, provide water for immigrants crossing the border. Federal wildlife officials have provided water stations in the desert for animals but have been criticized for not providing enough for people.
Said Schwarzenegger, "What we're doing basically is, by not really securing the borders, we're saying: 'Look, here are the various water stations. Here are the places where you can cross the borders. Here is where we're going to help you.' The whole system is set up to really invite people to come in here illegally, and that has to stop."
Enrique Morones, president of the Border Angels, an immigrant rights group, responded to the governor's comments. "I assure you, nobody is coming here for the water, and the stations we have set up by various organizations is a humanitarian effort.
"We don't respond to Arnold Schwarzenegger; we respond to a higher authority. We're a nonpolitical, humanitarian organization."
Asked by the hosts of the "John and Ken Show" why Bush called the volunteers vigilantes, Schwarzenegger said: "I really cannot tell you exactly what his thinking is. I'm sure he's trying to solve the problem as well as anyone can. And he maybe has more information than you and I have. Why he has a policy about the border the way he has, I don't know. I've not had that conversation with him.
"But the next time I see him, I will have that conversation."
Schwarzenegger's opponents in the Legislature voiced outrage at the governor's comments.
Aides to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles) said he was furious and promptly called Schwarzenegger to complain.
Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, a Democrat from South Gate, blasted the governor's comments as "scapegoating and immigrant bashing."
"To support vigilantism is completely against the oath he took" to uphold the law, De La Torre said. "It goes way beyond normal law enforcement, normal border patrol jurisdiction. It's just off the charts. For him to say this puts him to the right of President Bush. This is completely out of the mainstream in California."
In the same radio interview, the governor also asked a Spanish-language Los Angeles television station, KRCA-TV Channel 62, to remove a billboard it erected with the words "Los Angeles, Mexico." The governor said such sentiments — implying that Los Angeles was now part of Mexico — would encourage illegal immigration.
Some conservatives welcomed Schwarzenegger's comments.
"Obviously, we are very happy the governor is beginning to side more and more with those of us who have been taking the problems with illegal aliens seriously," said Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, a volunteer group. "The governor gets that illegal aliens are a problem facing California."
Source: LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-governor29apr29,0,2580124.story?coll=la-home-local)