YUMA (Associated Press) January 30, 2006 — Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona has criticized Gov. Janet Napolitano's steps to crack down on illegal immigration, saying her border plans are an insult to Mexican-Americans.

The governor, also a Democrat, has taken steps for state authorities to confront Arizona's immigration problems and has proposed a $100 million plan that includes new state police squads focused on border security and millions of dollars for communities to tackle border-related woes.

The governor also is asking the military to pay for stationing an unspecified number of National Guard troops at the Arizona-Mexico border. The state already has about 170 National Guard troops stationed at the border to assist federal and state officers.

Public pressure is mounting for state politicians who face re-election this year to confront the problem. Arizona is the busiest illegal entry corridor along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Grijalva said Napolitano's new immigration policy is an insult to Mexican-Americans and that "Anglo-Saxon men make the strategy for her," according to an article in Bajo El Sol, the Spanish-language weekly sister publication of The Sun in Yuma.

In response to The Sun's questions about his criticism, Grijalva said, "I'm not saying the governor's policy is racist or jaded. All I'm saying is that it is not inclusive, and it should have included more people."

Napolitano spokeswoman Pati Urias said the governor consults with a number of people, including Latinos in Phoenix and border communities, when shaping immigration policy.

Marco Lopez, the former mayor of Nogales who now serves as executive director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, is one of the governor's advisers on immigration and border issues.

Urias said Grijalva's criticism hasn't created a rift between the two Democrats.

Yuma County Republican Vice Chairman David Lara said the congressman's "Anglo-Saxon" reference was racist and that Grijalva should apologize.

Grijalva said his remark wasn't racist, nor was he being critical of Napolitano.

He said that he was disappointed in Napolitano's immigration policy and that her enforcement-only approach to the problem "took the wind out of the sail of comprehensive reform."

Grijalva said he supports enforcement of immigration laws, but not an "enforcement-only approach."

Grijalva, like President Bush, favors a guest worker program. The program's prospects in Congress are uncertain. State government has no authority to institute such a program.