Cannon cites border progress

After a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, says security measures are working but that more needs to be done to reduce border violence and illegal immigration.

"It's difficult, but it's not hopeless," Cannon said Tuesday following a land and air tour of the Yuma Sector as part of a congressional delegation.

The Border Patrol has recently increased the power of "ground sensing radar," which helps detect border crossers, and fencing and walls are expanding as well.

However, along with improvements to border security, Cannon says a guest-worker program is needed as well.

"Right now, finding criminals and terrorists is like finding a needle in a haystack," he said. "If you take away the people who are coming to work, it takes away the haystack and you can focus on the needle."

Cannon, who has been President Bush's point man on immigration reform, said he believes that the Democratic-controlled Congress is willing to work with the president on reform. Cannon said he plans to work closely with members of an immigration committee on a guest worker proposal, which he said is needed along with border enforcement to secure the borders.

On Jan. 31, the Border Patrol's Yuma Sector reported 14,681 arrests since fiscal year 2007 began Oct. 1. That's 62 percent fewer arrests than the same period last year. However, at the same time there was a 28 percent increase in violence against Border Patrol agents.

In Utah, lawmakers have repeatedly cited a frustration over a lack of federal action on illegal immigration as they have debated bills attempting to deal with the issue at the state level.

Bills that are still alive range from HB437, which would repeal a law that allows qualified undocumented students to pay in-state tuition and would prevent the undocumented from accessing public services that aren't federally mandated. Another would require that all Utah employers use the federal Basic Pilot programs to verify the work eligibility of new hires.

When his helicopter hovered over a group of about 15 people huddling under a tree, it struck him as "really actually sad," Cannon said.

"On one hand, we need to enforce our laws," he said. "We give people incentives ... to try to come across. They come and the system is broken."

Alex Segura, who heads the Utah Minuteman Project, disagrees. Segura said beefing up border security along with cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers would be a better option to keep people from trying to cross the border.

"We may never even have to build a fence if Congress can get off their duff and get a real (work eligibility verification) program in place," he said. "And a stronger border guard system."

Meanwhile, Tony Yapias, director of Proyecto Latino de Utah, said he understands lawmakers' frustration as they consider bills to crack down on the undocumented.

"They are just frustrated about the inability of federal government to do anything," Yapias said. "There has to be a comprehensive immigration reform that allows people to work here legally."

Cannon also said he had heard there's a lot of trash on the border but said he was surprised at the amount he saw.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com