Security focus gaining in Capitol Hill immigration debate
The border-security-first approach to the illegal immigration question is gaining steam politically in Arizona and nationally.
While Congress still faces challenges in passing a border bill this year, the increasing push for a security first approach to the border could be a win for get-tough advocates such as Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl and Scottsdale Congressman J.D. Hayworth, both conservative Republicans.
There is public support for and political movement behind focusing immigration reforms first on improving security and law enforcement and then later on a guest worker program and possible legal citizenship paths for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.
That is win for get-tough border advocates and it's likely if anything passes this year in Congress, security will be first and foremost.
Business groups, Arizona Sen. John McCain, East Valley Congressman Jeff Flake and Gov. Janet Napolitano favor a wide-ranging approach, including a guest worker program, some legal citizenship path for illegals already in the U.S. as well as improved border security.
Hayworth is still skeptical of a business-backed U.S. Senate bill that includes a guest worker plan. That measure needs to be reconciled with a House version.
"Enforcement first is winning because it's where the American people are. The president and Senate seem to be moving in that direction, but it has to be more than rhetorical. And make no mistake, the idea of a guest worker trigger is not a compromise, it is a charade. It would give the pro-amnesty crowd everything it wants, which is why I will vigorously oppose it," said Hayworth.
The Bush administration and Senate have talked recently regarding the idea of focusing first on security and then triggering guest worker and other aspects after that. Hayworth wants completely separate bills with the first only focused on security.
Kyl has also taken a conservative tact on immigration, but is more to the middle from Hayworth.
The Arizona senator is working to get new federal penalties against illegal border tunnels and tougher enforcement of existing laws and more security resources.
Both Kyl and Hayworth face Democratic challengers (Jim Pederson, and Harry Mitchell, respectively) who support the McCain, business and Napolitano approach.
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