Immigration Reform Debate Continues In Gov's Race

By aaroncynic in News on Aug 10, 2010 7:00PM

Mexican immigrant Bernardo Ortega Guerrero of Vera Cruz, Mexico, rides in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement bus while heading to a waiting deportation jet in Broadview, IL on May 25, 2010. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Although Chicagoans don’t want to see illegal immigrants “hunted” ala Arizona’s much debated immigration law, plenty still have unfavorable opinions when it comes to immigrants. A recent Tribune/WGN poll found that 57 percent surveyed did not want police actively searching to detain illegal immigrants. In the same poll however, nearly half (48%) believed illegal immigrants stole jobs and resources from American citizens.

Most of those surveyed in the poll though said they would back some sort of legal route for illegal immigrants to obtain citizenship, provided they weren’t dangerous and “speak English.” Even GOP candidate Bill Brady suggested he backs such an idea. Bucking some of the more radical elements of his party, Brady told a group of Hispanic business leaders last week, “we need to bring real reform to immigration policy and open the doors so we can see a growth rate in this country of four percent or greater. The lack of reform and the lack of immigration in this state and country is crippling our economy and our quality of life.”

Even though it’s nice to hear Brady express desire that’s ideologically different than the more extreme positions of the GOP and Governor Quinn expressed desire to help immigrants via creating a new department, Progress Illinois rightly points out neither candidate has outlined concrete policy regarding immigration reform. Just because the local debate contains more nuance than the national partisan shouting match doesn’t mean the issue will go away.