TWIN FALLS (Idaho) TIMES-NEWS September 6, 2007 Craig resignation leaves gap in
immigration, Latino issues By Pat Marcantonio
Times-News writer BOISE - Margie Gonzalez was devastated at the news that Sen. Larry Craig might resign.
"Because at the Congres-sional level, he was a very strong voice for a lot of Latino issues; both him and his staff have been very supportive of the Latino issues in Idaho and just carrying that voice to D.C.," said Gonzalez, executive director of the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs.
Craig, 62, is reconsidering his decision to resign on Sept. 30. Idaho's senior senator pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct following a June 11 arrest at Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. The arresting officer said in his report that the restroom where he encountered Craig is a known location for homosexual activity.
Still, the news of Craig's resignation was disturbing to those who work with immigration and Latino issues in the state.
Craig was a sponsor of AgJOBS (Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act), a proposal that would have provided temporary work visas and a way to earn legalization for immigrant farm workers in Idaho and across the country.
At times, Craig's support of immigration reform left him standing alone, even amid Idaho's Congressional delegation, Gonzalez said.
She complemented Craig's staff in working with the Latino community in the Boise area and eastern Idaho. In addition to immigration issues, he also supported the Dream Act proposal, which will allow children of immigrants to go onto college, she said.
If Craig does resign, it might be difficult to replace that voice for the Latino community, Gonzalez added. The subject will probably come up at the next commission board meeting.
"We're really interested to see who will step up," she said.
Erik Johnson says Craig's resignation would impact immigrant Latinos and Idaho farmers who were hoping that AgJOBS might still be passed this session.
"Sen. Craig's resignation is undoubtedly a setback for proponents of comprehensive immigration reform," said Johnson, a Boise attorney with Idaho Legal Aid Services, and a member of the Idaho Network For New Americans, an immigrant advocacy organization.
"Sen. Craig was the leading advocate on the Republican side of the Senate for the AGJOBS bill, and his resignation will make it more difficult for the bill to pass. It appears that–the prospects for the bill to pass at this time are not very good."
Johnson gave Craig a "great deal" of–credit for standing up against immigration restrictionists and advocating for–a reasonable compromise on immigration reform that was acceptable to both farm workers and agribusiness.
"His successor undoubtedly will lack the clout that he had on this issue. In addition, it is unlikely that his successor, whoever it may be, will be interested in taking up the cause–for comprehensive immigration reform considering the volatility of the issue," Johnson said.
"The resignation of Senator Craig speaks volumes for the immigrant community in Idaho and across the nation," said Fernando Mejia, board member and co-chairman of the Idaho Community Action Network (ICAN), in a statement. "While in Congress, Sen. Craig worked diligently for comprehensive immigration reform and in particularly, he championed the AgJOBS bill.
"In a state where agriculture continues to be a primary industry, the passage of AgJOBS bill is paramount to normalizing the immigration status of thousands of immigrant workers in Idaho and across the nation. As we approach the harvest season, it is important for the agriculture industry to continue to rely on its immigrant farm workers that make the harvest season possible. Sen. Craig championed the AgJOBS bill and comprehensive immigration reform. His successor needs to follow that leadership and direction for Idaho."
Lisa Barini-Garcia, a Twin Falls immigration attorney for the nonprofit La Posada ministries, agrees that Craig's resignation could leave a hole that might not be easily filled when it comes to immigration reform.
"Certainly, he really struggled to get the guest worker program off the ground and to make it something meaningful," she said.
His support was not what they would have liked on family-based immigration, that is the ability of people to obtain documentation so that they can live and work legally without the constant threat or deportation and not be preyed upon by unscrupulous "immigration practitioners," Barini-Garcia said. But La Posada had good relations with his office. And when it had a problem with U.S. immigration, they could call and "usually get some movement," she said. Craig's administrative assistant in Boise also regularly attended the Idaho Network For New America meetings.
Barini-Garcia also sees no one stepping up for immigration reform if Craig does leave.
"I'm sad to see him go and in that regard, he was hasty in resigning. It's something for the voters to decide." |