June 16, 2006 1:46 PM

Polly Baca on immigration issues

Welcome to Polly Baca, CEO of Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA) and spokesperson for Keep Colorado Safe, which opposes the initiative to deny social services to illegal immigrants.
Mark(Q) Welcome, Polly Baca, to our online discussion. For starters, what's your reaction to the expected special legislative session to deal with the state Supreme Court tossing the "no services for illegal immigrants" initiative off the ballot?
Polly_Baca(A) It is fiscally irresponsible to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to have a special legislative session on an issue that the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional.

Mark(Q) The Democrats and Republicans seem to be racing each other to the statehouse. Nobody would be playing politics with this issue, would they?
Polly_Baca(A) I think politics is the only reason that Democratic and Republican leaders want a special session. But their vision is shortlived. Both parties should be thinking about the impact of this action on their immigrant constituents who vote and might have friends and relatives who are undocumented.

Mark(Q) The Democrats do seem to be in a tight space on this issue. Even if they disagree with the initiative there's sentiment to let the public decide. You were a legislator for 12 years. What kind of advice would you give the Democrats on how to handle this one?
Polly_Baca(A) I would advise them to honor our system of government and the roles of the three branches of government. The Supreme Court has ruled on this issue. We ought to honor that ruling. The public is going to have a lot of issues to vote on in November. This is an issue currently being debated in the U.S. Congress that has the responsibility and power to make decisions re immigration. Any action taken at the local or state level will be superceded by the action of the U.S. Congress.

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Mark(Q) If the no-services initiative gets back on the ballot and passes, what will be the effect?
Polly_Baca(A) It will require everyone to show an I.D. for use of our parks and any public recreation. Cities and Counties could be sued if they picked up garbage at the home of an undocumented. Should we have a mumps or flu outbreak, the undocumented could not be vaccinated. Undocumented children could not be seen by a health care provider, etc.

Mark(Q) Our series, The Border Within, has reported on numerous cases in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement has failed to deport criminal immigrants. Meanwhile, half the people deported have no criminal records. What's your view of how ICE does its job?
Polly_Baca(A) ICE is charged with enforcing an unenforceable system of immigration laws. We need comprehensive immigration reform to separate legitimate immigrants coming to the U.S. to work from the criminal element.

lauresmom(Q) Ms. Baca what type of reform would you like to see implemented?
Polly_Baca(A) The bill coming out of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee had some good reform measures. That bill was very similar to President George Bush's suggestions. These reform measures included: an increase of border patrol persons and other secure border provisions, employer accountability with a tamper-proof I.D. for workers, a way out of the shadows for the undocumented by allowing them to pay a few thousand dollars in fines to get their papers and then start at the end of the line if they wanted to become a citizen, and a guest worker program with protections for the workers.
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Yooo(Q) Why do you think immigration is so front-burner right now? It could have been this way two years ago, five years ago, right?
Polly_Baca(A) We have a one-issue member of Congress (Mr. Tancredo) who has used this issue to gain national publicity. Also, legislation passed at both the state and national levels is causing the middle class and low income workers to feel an economic squeeze. Historically, everytime this group of workers feels it in their pocket books, immigrant workers are seen as part of the problem. We have seen waves of immigrant workers come to Colorado and the U.S. periodically because of our country's economic needs -- then when we no longer need them, we want them to go back home.

lauresmom(Q) Why do you think there is so much animosity towards Mexican immigrants?
Polly_Baca(A) Because Mexico lost the 1848 War between Mexico and the United States. The whole southwestern part of the U.S. was first occupied by Native Americans and then by Spain from the 1500s to 1821 and by Mexico from 1821 to 1848. Spanish was the first European language spoken in this part of the world. And a lot of Spanish-speaking people owed huge land grants given to them first by Spain and then by Mexico. When Mexico lost the War, these people had no intention of leaving their homes and land -- the the border crossed them once again and they became citizens of the U.S. However, a clash of cultures developed that has lasted until today -- with some bigoted feelings toward people of Mexican ancestry.
Mark(Q) I think he's saying, the system seemed to work fine for many people and why the current uproar?
Polly_Baca(A) I think the current uproar is the result of a system of immigration laws that are unenforceable and don't work. It is also the result of some elected officials who are playing politics and stirring up old fears.

Mark(Q) Should the children of undocumented workers be able to pay in-state tuition to attend Colorado colleges and universities?
Polly_Baca(A) Yes. We need as many educated people/workers as possible. We should be looking at the capacity of their brains to help this nation -- not their documentation.
Mark(Q) Did the marches this spring have a negative effect on the cause of immigration reform?
Polly_Baca(A) I don't believe they had a negative effect. I want to thank everyone who participated in this conversation -- however, I have to leave for a meeting at this time. Thank you.