Immigration Still Huge Issue in the Golden State

NEWPORT BEACH, California, June 27 - Here in sunny Southern California, one would imagine that the 2008 election would be far from the minds of the average person. However, as in most quarters of the nation, there is an intense interest in the upcoming showdown between John McCain and Barack Obama. Among the various policies that come up, perhaps no issue more clearly activates voters here than the matter of immigration - particularly illegal immigration. The topic continues to be of acute interest, even though both Presidential candidates have been scrupulous in trying to avoid talking about it.

Of course, the debate is framed in part in relation to Southern California's ongoing and complicated relationship with its large community of Mexicans. Last year, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, proposed by the Bush Administration and supported by both McCain and Obama, generated great controversy. As proposed, it would have provided a path to legal citizenship for approximately 12 million illegal immigrants as well as funding increased border security. The act received widespread criticism from both conservative and liberal opponents, and ultimately died on the order paper, but not before exposing a heated controversy, particularly in California.

Since that time, the issue has disappeared from the legislative agenda, but remains a hot topic for voters. Whether in the local newspapers, or listening to talk radio, or overhearing chat in the shopping mall, it is clear the debate is far from over. Of course, the situation is complex, and the views of Southern Californians are nuanced as well. Among those who have lived in the state for a long time, one quickly discovers combination of deep sympathy for Mexican immigrants, and frustration with government at all levels that are seen to have failed to address the problem.

Sylvia Maddock, a resident of Tustin in Central Orange County, describes the tension this way: "I live in a community with a lot of immigrants, and I see what their lives are like. I have never lived some place where there is no running water, and you can't blame them for coming here to provide food for their families." On the other hand, she notes there are legitimate economic concerns to be considered, "I am trying to support my family too. I don't believe we should send everyone back, since we let them in in the first place, but we really need to start with securing our borders and holding the Mexican government accountable for taking care of their own people."

Frank Natal, who works in Torrance, California, also sympathizes with the migrant community but takes a somewhat stronger approach with regard to illegal immigration. "If you are a productive member of society, and you are doing things legally, then that's great. But if you are coming in illegally, and are doing illegal activities, you need to go home. We have enough criminals of our own to deal with." He concedes, however, that the overall situation is problematic. "Our system is broken. I face the same dilemma as our politicians - what would be a viable solution? I have friends who have come here legally and that's gotten a lot harder since September 11. But, if we are saying let's just legalize everybody and start all over, well, that doesn't work for me."

Ashley Willis, who lives in the coastal community of Newport Beach, expresses a similar perspective. "I am all for immigration as long as it's through proper channels" adding, "these are all wonderful people, but the system has to be fixed at some point." A few years ago, she worked for an attorney that specialized in immigration issues, and recalls the case that was made at that firm about restricting illegal immigration: "They said the economy would be hit pretty hard in California." Her own view is somewhat different: "When I travel to Australia, I see a lot of teenagers in positions that are held here by adults" and she wonders if the economic impact would be less dire than some have predicted.

For their own part, the candidates have attempted to address the concerns of voters, and some of the same themes carry through. Barack Obama's immigration policy acknowledges that the system is broken, and targets employers of illegal immigrants, but seems to stop short of proposing some of the enforcement measures that many voters are asking for. Obama's Republican rival has clearly changed his own tack: no longer is there an 'immigration' section on his website but there is rather a page dedicated to John McCain's border security policy. The policy emphasizes the need for a strong border, and also economic growth, but conveniently glosses over the Senator's high profile support of last year's Comprehensive Immigration Act.

Southern California remains an important batterground this election season, if not in terms of votes, then certainly in terms of fundraising, and so the candidates will continue to come here over these next months, and will be having ongoing converstation about local hot topics with California voters. If a candidate can appropriately address the important concern of how to deal with illegal immigration, they clearly would have a head start in winning over the hearts and minds of the citizenry.