Anti-immigrant initiatives growing

By Richard Marosi
Los Angeles Times

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Proposition 200 won handily, despite opposition from much of Arizona's political establishment, including Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano and Republican Sen. John McCain.

The measure — favored by 56 percent of voters — requires applicants for some public benefits to present proof of citizenship. State workers who do not report to federal authorities illegal immigrants applying for benefits could be jailed.

Its passage sparked many illegal immigrants to keep their children home from schools. Attendance in Phoenix preschools had returned to normal by Thursday after teachers reassured parents that the measure would not affect schools.

The measure was a scaled-down version of California's Proposition 187, passed by voters a decade ago but thrown out by the courts in part because it conflicted with federal laws.

It is unclear whether the Arizona initiative will survive expected court challenges, but supporters say its passage reflects a growing discontent with federal inaction on immigration issues.

Support for the initiative was strongest among white voters, but 47 percent of Hispanics supported the measure, according to some exit polls.

The momentum from Arizona could carry over, in particular, to Colorado and California, where nascent efforts are under way to push similar measures in 2006.

"It encourages us," said Rick Oltman, Western field director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which supports the proposed California "Save Our License" measure.

The proposed Colorado and California measures are patterned, in part, after Arizona's Proposition 200.

Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, the group behind the California initiative, said the group has gathered about 100,000 signatures since September. At least 500,000 are needed to qualify the measure for the ballot, he said.
 
The California initiative would block illegal immigrants from accessing local and state benefits and from obtaining driver's licenses. Citizens also would be able to sue state or local governments that do not comply.

Some analysts think the initiative stands a solid chance of being on the ballot, especially if organizers receive funding from groups outside the state.

"I think it will pick up steam, but not because it will solve the immigration problem," said Rick Swartz, a longtime Washington, D.C., consultant on immigration policy. "They can't succeed in Congress, so they go to the states to generate a public backlash in order to have an angrier populace."