Immigration Big on GOP Campaign Trail

WASHINGTON — Immigration forced its way to the forefront of the Republican presidential primary campaign last week, and experts say it is likely to stay there.

GOP contenders Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney spent several days sparing over illegal immigration — accusing each other of supporting "sanctuary city" policies that protect illegal immigrants from federal enforcement.

Arizona Republican and presidential candidate Sen. John McCain told a crowd in Aspen that he has received death threats for supporting a major immigration bill that would give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.

And former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is considering a presidential run, said that young Americans were being "massacred" by illegal immigrants while Congress and President Bush went on vacation. Gingrich was referring to a recent triple murder in Newark where an illegal immigrant was arrested in connection with the crime.

John J. Pitney, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College, said immigration is a big issue for Republican activists.

"It involves economics, national security, and national identity. John McCain's downward spiral has reminded the other Republicans that they cannot afford to look weak on the issue," he said.

But Thomas Mann, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said that immigration may not be a determining factor because all the Republican candidates have opted to pursue only tough border security measures. Even McCain came out in support of a strong security bill earlier this month, prompting many to suggest he was back-tracking from his earlier support of broader reform.

"It is less likely to be a decisive issue but will be the subject of many speeches and ads," Mann said.

So far this year, Romney has taken a tough stand on immigration, including a recent trip to the border where he pledged to cut off federal money to cities that offer "sanctuary" to illegal immigrants.

On several occasions, Romney has accused Giuliani of making New York City a refuge for illegal immigrants, protecting them from federal deportation laws.

Giuliani inherited — and staunchly defended — a policy from predecessor Ed Koch that barred city agencies from sharing information with the federal government on the immigration status of residents who use city services unless there is evidence of a crime.

Giuliani came back swinging, accusing Romney of allowing two Massachusetts cities — Cambridge and Somerville — to give illegal immigrants the same protection.

Critics also point out that Romney used a landscaping firm at his home for years that employed illegal immigrants. Romney said he did not know the workers were illegal and that the owner of the operation was a legal resident.

Giuliani also unveiled a radio ad last week to quell critics of his immigration record where he pledged to build a physical fence and a technological fence to stop illegal immigrants.

McCain revealed last week just how hot an issue immigration can be for Republicans.

McCain said he has "never seen an issue that has inflamed the passions of the American people" like immigration has, including the war in Iraq.

"I have never heard such rhetoric. We have never received death threats before like I received," McCain told a crowd of about 500 at The Aspen Institute.

McCain was one of few Republicans who supported the White House-backed immigration bill that also included border enforcement measures and a guest worker program. The legislation died in the Senate earlier this year, with many conservatives decrying it as an amnesty for lawbreakers.

Also last week, Gingrich released a strongly-worded newsletter about the Newark triple murder.

One man whom police believe was involved in the murders — Jose Lachira Carranza — is an illegal immigrant from Peru.

Gingrich said that the "war here at home" against illegal immigrant criminals is "even more deadly than the war in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Experts said that Republicans risk alienating Hispanic voters with tough talk on immigration.

"The strong anti-immigration sentiments within the GOP can't possibly help the Republicans with Hispanics," said University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato.

Latino support for the GOP dropped from around 40 percent in 2004 to around 30 percent in 2006, Sabato said. Meanwhile, Hispanic turnout increased, from 6 percent of the national vote in 2004 to 8 percent in 2006, he added.

However, Sabato also said it is too soon to tell whether immigration will be a major factor in the general election.

"Is this just red meat for GOP partisans during the primaries. ... Or will (the nominee) pursue immigration as a wedge issue against the Democratic candidate in the autumn? We don't know yet," Sabato said.