Illegal immigration will likely be an election issue in 2006, especially after Gov. Tim Pawlenty's call Tuesday for "get tough" proposals on this politically charged issue.
Pawlenty announced a series of proposals, most which would require legislative approval, including establishment of a 10-person immigration enforcement police unit to make it harder to obtain and possess false identification documents.
The governor held meetings held around the state. While he may have met in Rochester, Worthington and elsewhere, he did not visit Willmar, the community with the largest immigrant population per capita in outstate Minnesota. This is disappointing.
Willmar is one of the first communities in the state with the new wave of immigrants, many drawn here by employment opportunities. The community has worked and is still working to embrace diversity and the new immigrants. This community has demonstrated some success in this.
Yet as Willmar Police Chief Jim Kulset told the West Central Tribune on Tuesday, there is a need for better enforcement of federal immigration laws as well as a need for increased fines for businesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
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As Chief Kulset said, there is also a protection issue for illegal immigrants -- protecting them from unscrupulous businesses and landloads. This is a serious need.
Many of the illegal immigrants remain and still are law-abiding, and are here just to work and provide for their families.
As an international border state, Minnesota also has unique security challenges along the Canadian border. As security tightens in other areas, drug runners and other ill have shifted crossing attempts to the Minnesota-Canadian border.And as Pawlenty pointed out, the recent major drug bust in Stearns County included many illegal immigrants. So homeland security is an issue.
Illegal immigration is an issue worth discussing. However, both political sides must fair and balanced in addressing this issue. Let's not politicize this issue but discuss the needs of this state and all of its citizens.
Utilizing immigration phobia to drum up political support would be rather sad and tragic, especially in Minnesota -- a state built by immigrants.
