Albuquerque Tea Party forum
Four of five Republican gubernatorial candidates discussed a host of issues, including illegal immigration, on Saturday during an Albuquerque Tea Party forum in the Duke City.
While Janice Arnold-Jones, Doug Turner, Pete Domenici Jr. and Allen Weh essentially agreed that the border has to be secured as soon as possible, they disagreed on how to do it during the forum, which was attended by some 400 people.
The fifth candidate, Susana Martinez, did not participate because she was in El Paso with her father, who was admitted to the hospital late last week after having been diagnosed with cancer.
Weh and Domenici said they would put an end to New Mexico’s so-called sanctuary policies. They also said the want the federal government and the state’s congressional delegation to refocus on the “crisis” and finish a fence along the border.
Domenici went even further, saying he would use state police to deliver illegal immigrants to the border and to the federal immigration agencies.
But Turner, who said the challenge with immigration is “huge,” said he doesn’t want New Mexico to turn into a “police state.”
“I agree that we have to enforce existing laws, but I worry… that we’ll become a police state, which is certainly not something that we want to be,” Turner said. “If people are breaking laws, and they’re here illegally, then we need to enforce the laws, and get them back where they ought to be. But, I think… the last thing you want to see is police roving around the neighborhood knocking on doors and hauling people out of their homes.”
Domenici predicted that whatever action the next governor takes “won’t be pleasant.”
“We’ll end up back where we were with the federalist ideas, where states are going to do immigration,” Domenici said.
Weh agreed, and said, “I think as a border state the governor of New Mexico has an obligation to influence federal immigration policies.”
Domenici said he doesn’t believe Congress will focus on the issue “when states have sanctuary policies.” He said the longer governors allow the status quo, the longer Washington “won’t take action.”
“We cannot allow that to continue,” Domenici said. “Then the problems become worse, and it’s harder to fix.”
Weh told the crowd that if he’s elected, he will reverse the state’s sanctuary policy within 24 hours of being sworn in. He said he would support a guest worker program once the border is secure.
“We need a border so tight you know when an ant crosses it,” Weh said. “I realize that 90 percent of the people sneaking across the border are here to just to do harmless things, but it’s the other percentage that concerns me.”
Arnold-Jones reminded the crowd about the flow of drugs from Mexico into the state, but shocked many when she said, “We’ve had nuclear weapons from our nation go the other way.”
After the forum, she quickly clarified her comments with NMPolitics.net and said that she was referring to a 2007 GAO Report that revealed government inspectors had smuggled simulated nuclear weapons — dirty bombs — across the border in duffel bags, at three points, including one in New Mexico.
“The fact that… we have not secured our borders is wrong, it’s dangerous, and as governor it will stop,” Arnold-Jones said. “I don’t care what the rest of the nation is going to do. At this point, we have to secure our own borders. ”
Amnesty and guest-worker programs also a hot topic
All of the candidates at the forum said they oppose granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants already in the country illegally – except Arnold-Jones, who said she’s considering but hasn’t decided whether to propose an idea some would consider amnesty.
Arnold-Jones said she recognizes that “our nation was built on immigrants, but to suspend the rules for one and make a special rule for another… it’s not right.” But she said she’s considering an idea that would allow workers to stay and seek citizenship after one year, if they and their employers pay double tax.
Turner said he believes in the power of immigrants and supports a guest-worker program in the state.
“We need a national policy, and we need to work with our members of Congress to come up with a policy that works and that it’s humane,” Turner said.
Weh said he the laws cannot be “ignored” but said “there’s going go have to be a resolution and some compassion for some of the people, but that’s a federal issue and we’ll have our voice heard.”
Domenici admitted that, without amnesty, there will be “many hardship cases.”
“There will be many heartbreaking cases, but unless we do that, when people are here and deported, even though they have families, even though they have ties, when they are deported by our state police, when the sanctuary policy is gone, then that’s when the issue will start receiving more attention,” he said.
What sets each apart?
Following the forum, NMPolitics.net talked to each candidate about what they might have learned by listening to their opponents and what separates them from the field.
Weh:
Arnold-Jones:
Turner:
Domenici:
NMPolitics.net also recorded audio of the entire forum. To here it, click here or click the play button in this bar:Update, 5:15 p.m.
Martinez Campaign Manager Adam Deguire said this about her beliefs about immigration:
“Susana Martinez believes that securing our borders starts with ending policies that encourage illegal immigration. That’s why Martinez opposes giving driver’s licenses and free college tuition scholarships to illegal immigrants. As a member of law enforcement, Martinez does not believe in sanctuary policies that prevent police officers from asking the immigration status of suspects in their custody during the course of a criminal investigation.
“In addition, Martinez has real experience dealing with immigration and border security issues. Her office prosecutes hundreds of cases related to border security every year and works with various law enforcement agencies to secure convictions against members of Mexico’s violent drug cartels.
“Martinez believes we are a nation of immigrants and supports legal immigration, but opposes amnesty.”