Napolitano: Controversial Figure, Positive Change
La Opinión, Editorial, Staff Posted: Nov 25, 2008
The anticipated selection of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to head the Department of Homeland Security demonstrates the incoming administration's interest in highlighting immigration within the federal agency's broad portfolio.
At the same time, it shows that Obama is seeking a moderate approach to this thorny issue, based on border security. In comparison to the Bush Administration, the selection is good news, although in terms of possibilities, it could have been better.
Arizona is ground zero in the immigration debate and Napolitano is definitely in the mix. The state has some of the country's strictest laws in terms of punishment of employers who hire the undocumented, and the governor was an enthusiastic supporter of mobilizing the National Guard to protect the border. Yet, Napolitano opposes the wall between Mexico and the US as ineffective and instead supports using technology in the area.
Napolitano charted an independent course on immigration in order to be politically successful in this conservative state. This has made her a controversial figure on both sides of the immigration debate.
While tough, she has also opposed a number of laws that set out to punish the undocumented, and she has criticized indiscriminate raids as well as the collaboration of police with immigration agents. She cut off state funds from Sheriff Joe Arpaio to stop his operations against the undocumented.
An individual with these qualities is a positive change for Homeland Security, which now engages in some of the most ruthless policies of recent times. The first steps must be taken to halt the massive raids that tear apart families, end deportation procedures that violate the rights of detainees, and stop the mistreatment of those in custody.
Napolitano can be invaluable in immigration reform because of her support for legalization and for temporary workers' programs. This will depend upon whether Obama puts his effort on immigration reform during his first year, as he has promised.
The selection of Napolitano is an improvement over the current head of Homeland Security. Her experience as a governor and as a federal prosecutor will be useful when leading the federal agency's huge bureaucracy as well as its other law enforcement responsibilities.
In considering her, Obama has made a positive statement for Homeland Security. That said, it will be the president who must balance between the more hard-line or moderate Napolitano.
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User Comments
Nezzie on Nov 26, 2008 at 09:07:01 said:
I voted for this man because he said he believes in enforcing the law of the land. I voted for this man because I believed he would put American citizens first, now I am not so sure. He has not been sworn in yet and already I am having my doubts. How many times do we the American taxpaying citizens have to say not to this Congress and our President and now the President Elect that we will not stand for amnesty, we will not stand for giving anymore of our hard earned money to invaders who do not belong in our country, what is wrong with these people, no means no, somebody needs to fight for the biggest lobby in the USA the American citizen! I say no Obama if he is out to give our country away to illegal Mexican citizens!
HernandezUSA on Nov 24, 2008 at 13:17:43 said:
We need the SAVE ACT and E-verify used for every business in the United States of America.
-->E-verify does not discriminate against RACE, Religion, SEX or physically capability only your Citizenship and your LEGAL right to be and work in United States.
If we can stop Predatory business owners from hiring then the Illegal Aliens will not Stay and return to their native Countries.
This ISSUE is not about RACE, but Governments Federal/State/LOCAL not doing their jobs, because big and small business owners want cheap workers and no labor laws to bother with. Its called GREED!
The only RACISTS are the single RACE agenda GROUPS like La RAZA, Mecha, Aztlan and ETC....Whose main goal is take our Western States back to Mexico.
Liberal and Conservatives take some pride in your Country and protect it from all invading nations citizens and corporate greed.