Tensions rise in U.S.-Mexico border region

Steve Geissinger:

After Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's calls forbetter federal border controls and praise of Minutemen patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border to report illegal immigrants, the group expects to begin similar efforts in California — a move pro-immigration demonstrators plan to counter.

A new poll shows, meanwhile, Schwarzenegger's comments won him the Republican backing he wants, while riling the Democratic lawmakers he's already battling over the deficit-plagued state budget and government-reform measures.

"In a shift since January, when Republicans named the state budget as their top concern, Republicans today put immigration at the top of their list," said Mark Baldassare, director of the independent, San Francisco-based Public Policy Institute of California poll released Thursday.

On the other hand, Baldassare said, "Latinos, who are more negative than whites about all areas of the governor's performance, are especially scathing in their assessment of his handling of illegal immigration — 78 percent disapprove."

In the Democratic-dominated Legislature, Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate, last week warned Schwarzenegger against "spreading fear and anger across a state as diverse as California."

But even among Democrats and independents in general, the PPIC poll shows only slight majorities disapprove of Schwarzenegger's handling of illegal immigration.

"There is a world of difference between legal and illegal (immigration)," said John LaFleche, a Democrat who lives in East Oakland.

"With 75 percent of my family heritage from recent immigrants, I am concerned about how this issue is affecting the long-time, working-poor citizens and legal immigrants," he said.

Hopefully this will encourage other Republican politicians to take a stronger stand on the problem of illegal immigration.