Arizona Initiative Prompts Allegations of Bias

PHOENIX (By Le Templar, Tribune) July 20, 2004 - An initiative drive for a proposed state law to discourage illegal immigration was met with immediate resistance Tuesday, as supporters and detractors traded accusations of ethnic bias, economic ignorance and pandering to political correctness.

A group called Protect Arizona NOW formally launched its attempt to get the issue on the November 2004 ballot with an hourlong news conference Tuesday at the state Capitol. It quickly turned into an emotional debate that foreshadowed what could become one of the most acrimonious campaigns the state has seen since the battle over establishing a holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. more than a decade ago.

Leaders of the initiative committee said undocumented immigrants from Mexico are draining away tax dollars through welfare programs while federal and state officials do little to stop an "invasion" that exceeds 400,000 people a year.

Committee treasurer and Phoenix auto dealer George "Rusty" Childress even blamed the deaths of immigrants who try to cross the desert border on government policies that he said encourages them to come.

"Arizona's government has blood on their hands," Childress said. "With this initiative, citizens can wipe it clean. Only they can cut through our government's denial."

The proposal would require state and local officials to verify immigration status for anyone who applies for "public benefits." The initiative also would require proof of citizenship every time someone casts an election ballot, and would make it a crime for state or local officials to fail to report any suspected undocumented immigrants to federal authorities.

The initiative committee must collect 122,612 petition signatures from registered voters by July 1, 2004, to qualify for next year's state ballot. The initiative mirrors a series of unsuccessful bills sponsored this year by Reps. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, and Randy Graf, R-Green Valley, who are key advisers to the committee.

Critics held their own news conference immediately afterward, and said working immigrants benefit the economy and taxpayers instead of robbing anyone. Several lawmakers bluntly described the initiative as discrimination against Mexicans and other Hispanics.

"What drives them is race, there is no other explanation for what they are doing today," said Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix. "To call Randy Graf, and I wish he was here, a racist or an uneducated fool, is perfectly on the dot."

Graf and Pearce dismissed those accusations, but said they expect the claims to grow louder as the initiative campaign picks up steam.

"They can't challenge the merits of this legislation, of this initiative, so they are immediately resorting to calling us names," Graf said. "This has nothing to do with racism. This has everything to do with the sovereignty of the United States and with us as taxpayers being able to hold our government responsible, and saying enough is enough."

Committee organizers also expected accusations of ethnic bias and already have recruited Hispanics in an effort to show their cause is not about prejudice. Henry "Hank" Esparza, a Mesa native who lives in Chandler, said he will coordinate the initiative campaign in Maricopa County.

"Arizona has become overwhelmed with undocumented immigrants who are encouraged to cross our unsecured borders in search of jobs that don't exist," Esparza said. "Our citizens shouldn't have to foot bills to aid and abet these lawbreakers."

Gov. Janet Napolitano said Tuesday she hadn't read the proposal, but "any initiative that attempts to divide Arizonans one against another, I have some concerns about.’’

The proposal would not affect any area protected by federal mandate, which includes public education and emergency medical care. But Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, said a literal reading of the initiative would require firefighters and police officers to ask for identification before they could respond for calls for help.

"This isn't about immigration," Gallardo said. "It is about a group attacking the basics of democracy and freedom."

Initiative supporters said Gallardo's comments were irresponsible.

"These are outright lies. No one is going to deny firefighters or policemen or emergency care to anybody," said Dianne Valenzuela of Glendale, whose husband is Hispanic.

Several East Valley municipal officials were concerned Tuesday about the uncertainty of how the proposal would affect their operations.

"I don't know of any services being provided that this would apply to," Apache Junction spokesman Pat Brenner said.

But Tempe City Councilman Dennis Cahill said the proposal could cause far-reaching damage to undocumented immigrants and legal residents.

"I can't even imagine at this moment all of the unintended consequences of
restricting people from social services," Cahill said.

Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman said he favors an effort to protect the rights of citizens and legal residents.

"Undocumented immigrants have no business voting. I wouldn't want a citizen of Mesa voting in a Gilbert election," Berman said.

At the state level, an spokesman for the Department of Economic Security said people are required to demonstrate legal residency before they can qualify for food stamps, cash assistance and other welfare administered by that agency.

But a spokesman for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, which administers Medicaid to the poor, said applicants are asked only to check a box about their citizenship. Spokesman Frank Lopez said AHCCCS eligibility workers are forbidden by federal rules from pursuing the matter further unless they have some specific reason — not including race, language or accent — to doubt an applicant's legal status.