Immigration issues challenge Congress

Immigration reform is emotional, polarizing and politically tricky as was demonstrated at a Utah forum he hosted, says Rep. Chris Cannon , R-Utah, a man hated by anti-immigration groups because he helps lead the fight for President Bush's immigration-reform proposals.

"A man there said, 'We should kick out everyone who is illegal and stop them from coming in at the border.' I said, 'How are you going to stop them? Shoot them? Do you really want to kill them?' "

Cannon said the man replied to his shock, "Yes. You don't have to shoot them all. You only have to kill a couple, and the rest will quit coming."

"I looked at the audience," Cannon said, "and about a third of them were nodding their heads in agreement."

Cannon added, "I don't think that is representative of the mainstream in Utah or America."

The congressman believes most, like President Bush and himself, are more compassionate, wanting illegals to be able to earn legal status and maybe even citizenship over time. They also want to establish a system that would allow needed foreign workers to come to America temporarily.

Congress is expected to debate such solutions beginning this fall, with Bush and GOP leaders vowing to pass a comprehensive reform bill within a year. Many states are not waiting for a federal solution and are pushing ahead with steps of their own.

For example, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson recently declared a state of emergency in four counties along the border because of violence, drug smuggling and increased numbers of undocumented immigrants. It allowed him to free up extra money for everything from fighting drug smuggling to beefing up state border security.

Also, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. pledged, in a recent visit with Mexico President Vicente Fox, to take a lead with the help of the Western Governors Association to find solutions to immigration issues.

Big fix

At least 100 bills, designed to solve various aspects of immigration problems, have been introduced in Congress so far this year. Leaders have vowed to try to pass one big comprehensive reform bill within a year.

"The real question is, what will be in it?" Cannon asked.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., has vowed to bring up such a bill this fall. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said the Senate likely won't consider it until next year.

Vowing to pass such a bill is ambitious, Cannon says, because the issue "splits people in both parties, and even splits regions."

For example, Cannon says two of his friends in Congress are Sens. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. "But we just don't talk about immigration anymore because we disagree so strongly."