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American Morning
Immigration Issue in Spotlight in Washington Today
Aired September 05, 2001 - 11:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The immigration issue is in the spotlight in Washington today, as President Bush sits down for talks with Mexican President Vicente Fox. What do Americans think about the issue? In a new Gallup poll: 28 percent of the respondents say they favor making it easier for illegal immigrants to become U.S. citizens, two-thirds of those surveyed say the U.S. should not make it easier, and a fifth of those polled say that they favor amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Well, joining us now from Washington to debate this issue is Raul Yzaguirre. He's the president of the National Council of La Raza, which offers assistance to the Hispanic community, and Congressman Tom Tancredo from Colorado. He's the chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus.
Gentlemen, thanks for coming in this morning.
Mr. Yzaguirre, I'm going to begin with you. Not very many -- there's a big chunk of Americans who find it hard to think that -- change their minds about making life easier here for illegals. Same appears to be taking place in Congress as well. What are your thoughts about that.
RAUL YZAGUIRRE, PRESIDENT, NATL. COUNCIL OF LA RAZA: Well, let's talk about polls first of all. A poll taken by Celinda Lake recently showed -- we explain to the American people, what we are talking about, a limited legalization program for people who are paying taxes, who are working for, who are contributing to this economy. The vast majority of Americans support that program. So does organized labor, so does the business community, so does the religious community. The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the NAACP, the national council of La Raza, all major American institutions support a limited legalization program.
HARRIS: Congressman, if so many people think that's a great idea, why is there not much appetite for it in Congress as President Bush has been quoted as saying?
REP. TOM TANCREDO (R), COLORADO: Well, there's no appetite for it in Congress, and there's no appetite for it out there among the general public. Regardless of how you try to spin the numbers, the reality is that the American public is opposed to amnesty for people who came here, violated our laws. You know, it's interesting, in the Zogby poll that came out a little bit ago show not only where majority of Americans opposed, but a majority of Hispanic opposed to amnesty. In regard to the words you use to describe the activity, regularization or earned legalization or whatever. It's amnesty. You're rewarding people for having violated the law, and that goes against the sensibilities of every law-abiding American.
HARRIS: How do you aggress that, Mr. Yzaguirre, because that is a comment and a sentiment that I have heard addressed by many people, inside and outside of the government?
YZAGUIRRE: We have a hypocrisy in this country. We want workers. We recognize that they've added enormously to our community. They're paying more in taxes than they're using in services. They are really the engine behind this economy. The inflation, the low inflation we enjoy precisely because of the ability to work, and yet we want them to continue to work under very abusive conditions, and that's simply wrong. And I think we've explained it, as the polls have indicated, when you explain to people what we're talking about, overwhelming their is support of a limited legalization program.
HARRIS: All right, well, Congressman Tancredo, Vicente Fox is talking to President Bush, and he will be addressing Congress sometime during trip. Is there anything he can say at all that could change your mind or sway the opinion in Congress on this issue?
TANCREDO: Well, not about amnesty. There is nothing to convince me that the best thing for the United States to do is to provide amnesty for people who broke the law.
HARRIS: But amnesty is not the only issue.
TANCREDO: Not the only issue, but it is linchpin issue. I heard him say, almost everything depends on him getting that particular provision through. There's certainly some sort of guest worker program that we could develop -- a guest worker program with integrity that could protect the right of the worker and ensure on the other side of this the worker returns after a certain period of time to the country of where they came. That kind of country we are absolutely willing to work on, and we will solve a lot of problems that I think do exist. But we do not have to provide amnesty in the meantime. We tried it in 1986. It was a disaster.
If people believe out there, that there's a problem with illegal immigration into this country, which certainly, I do, then you Have to ask yourself, what part of that problem is solved by amnesty? And of course the answer is, nothing.
LEON: Let me ask Mr. Yzaguirre that question. What part of the problem is solved by amnesty.
YZAGUIRRE: Well, first of all, the term "amnesty" suggests that you committed a crime. We're talking about people who want to feed kids, earn a living. They didn't commit a crime, either in conceptual terms or in legal terms. This is a misdemeanor at best, at worst. Secondly, the fact of the matter is that what we will be solving, is we will be taking millions of people who are dragging down our wages, who are living at the shadows of society, bringing them up in the open, making them regular citizens of the United States, and continue to contribute to make this greatest country in the world.
HARRIS: Mr. Yzaguirre, the national council of La Raza and Representative Tom Tancredo from Colorado, thank you very much. We appreciate your taking time to talk with us about this Difficult issue. There is human lives at stake either way.
TANCREDO: A very emotional issue.
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