Where they stand on immigration

We're asking Mike McGavick and Maria Cantwell to address a series of issues facing Congress. Their responses will appear occasionally in The Seattle Times. The answers are edited for space.

Should illegal immigration be considered a felony?

Mike McGavick: We don't need to change what kind of crime illegal immigration is; the focus should be on ways to better enforce our immigration laws. Illegal immigration-related offenses such as human smuggling and drug smuggling should remain felonies and carry the strictest penalties.

Maria Cantwell: No, illegal immigration is already a crime. Under the Bush administration, there has been a 30 percent decline in enforcement on the Mexican border. We need a tough, fair and practical approach to this issue — better enforcement of the laws on the books right now is where we ought to start.

Should some illegal immigrants have a path to U.S. citizenship?

Mike McGavick: Any comprehensive immigration bill should start with securing the borders and include a temporary and rigid guest-worker program. A path to citizenship that includes the payment of back taxes, a requirement to learn English, and other financial penalties for laws that have been broken can then be implemented for illegal immigrants already working in America, already immersed in our communities and who wish to become citizens.

Maria Cantwell: Yes. We need a practical solution that deals with the 12 million illegal immigrants already here. This solution must be fair to taxpayers and seal our borders. We must get tough on the border, allowing only those who pass a background check, register with the government, pay fines, learn English, meet civic requirements, and continue to work to earn a path to citizenship — making taxpayers out of illegal-immigrant workers.

Should all travelers have to carry passports when crossing the U.S.-Canada border?

Mike McGavick: No. I believe that specifically requiring a passport will interfere with life in many Washington communities where travel between Canada and the U.S. is a daily occurrence. But, another type of flexible, tamper-proof ID system is necessary so that we are able to track those who cross our borders.

Maria Cantwell:No. As the 1999 apprehension of Ahmed Ressam showed, we need better, more accurate accountability for the movement of people across the northern border. The security of our nation is my highest priority. A new, robust policy is needed to secure our borders, and we must move to implement a system as soon as possible.