Immigration Wakey Wakey

Published today in the LA Times is an interesting editorial from New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Richardson is a democratic presidential aspirant and is also the governor of New Mexico and a former U.N. ambassador and U.S. secretary of Energy. Yup, the guy got around...

When a mainstream politico like him weighs in on border wars and immigration issues [LA Times OP ED below and at the link above], it ought to ring wake up calls in a lot of places that might not have been paying attention so far.

It is a direct challenge to President Bush's failed engagement with Mexico over immigration. In my humble sincere opinion, this is only the first salvo from Richardson on this issue. We'll likely see more. And hear from both democrats and that other party on the issue of immigration and immigrant rights or limitations.

The other shoe here that may drop is when California's republican governor Arnold Schwarz -- I did not grope that woman -- enegger decides to get into the act and steal some media limelight from the Democrats. Of course, he will speak with perceived authority as an immigrant. Whether or not he really has any legitimate insights on these issues will be irrelevant to what people think about him and his statements.

Far Right-wing immigration "activists" such as the Minutemen can only applaud such actions because their issues are going mainstream (at least slowly) and all the extreme right-wing remora parasites that are riding the sharks of illegal immigration issues will go along for the ride.

Stay tuned.

THE BORDER EMERGENCIES In New Mexico ...
By Bill Richardson

MASKED MEN KIDNAP three teenage girls. A sniper fires shots at the local sheriff. Property is destroyed at homes and businesses. Mexican cattle suspected of carrying bovine tuberculosis are found on ranches. Seven people reportedly are attacked and robbed at gunpoint. These are some of the many troubling developments in recent weeks along the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico.

Our border area also has seen heavy drug trade, human smuggling, kidnappings, murders, animal deaths and property destruction. The threat of potential terrorist activity remains.

All of this crystallized for me last week during a helicopter tour, when I saw firsthand the well-worn avenues along the desert floor where illegal entry and drug smuggling were taking place, with no law enforcement or Border Patrol visible on the ground. Conversations with ranchers and landowners reinforced what I witnessed. That was when I decided to declare a state of emergency along our border with Mexico.

Border security and immigration issues are clearly a federal responsibility. And those of us from border states have continuously urged the federal government to increase funding, expand patrols and dedicate more resources for border security. Yet our pleas have been met mostly by inaction.