Bill Batey, Jose Medina talk immigration : Multicultural Beat

Posted on | October 22, 2012 | Comments

Jose Medina and Bill Batey

A few weeks ago, I wrote a story on how the volatile issue of immigration presents a dilemma for candidates in tight races.

I was unable to get comments from the campaigns of the candidates in the closely contested Riverside and Moreno Valley-based 61st state Assembly District race in time for my deadline.

But I recently bumped into Democratic candidate Jose Medina, a teacher and former Riverside Community College District trustee, at an event, and he said he was happy to talk about the issue.

I later reached Batey, a firefighter and Moreno Valley City Council member, on his cell phone and asked him the same questions I asked Medina.

My story was on how candidates in swing districts have to be careful in how they address the issue of immigration. Supporting proposals such as legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants or driver?s licenses for illegal immigrants can hurt candidates among conservative voters, but opposing such measures can cost them Latino votes. Polls show Latinos overwhelmingly support those proposals and others that assist undocumented immigrants.

Batey is well aware of the fine line candidates must walk. After I asked him the first question ? on whether illegal immigrant students attending California public universities should be eligible for state financial aid ? he paused and then said, ?That?s a Catch 22. If you say one thing, you upset one group of folks. If you say another thing, you upset another.?

Batey said he?s never been asked about immigration in his months of campaigning. Voters are much more concerned about the economy and reducing unemployment, and immigration is primarily a federal issue, he said.

Medina said he doesn?t bring up immigration at campaign events, because he doesn?t see it as a major issue in his campaign. But he said voters sometimes ask him about it, and when the issue comes up, he always addresses it.

Here are how the candidates stand on key immigration-related issues, especially matters that have come before the state legislature:

* A measure signed into law last year by Gov. Jerry Brown that makes undocumented immigrants eligible for state-funded grants, scholarships and other assistance. Another law permits privately funded scholarships for illegal immigrants.

Medina said he supports both laws, which are now in place.

?It makes sense to educate everyone,? he said. ?To have a strong economy, we?re going to need to have an educated workforce. We will all benefit from them getting educated and reaching their potential.?

Batey said he opposes state financial assistance for illegal immigrants.

?This takes away resources from people who came here legally and went through the process, and from those who were born here,? he said.

Batey said private organizations should have the right to fund scholarships for illegal immigrants.

* In-state tuition for undocumented-immigrant students, which has been in place since 2002. Medina said he supports it, because it makes it more likely that talented, high-achieving students will get educated and contribute to the economy.

Batey said he opposes it. Illegal immigrants should not pay less in tuition than a U.S. citizen or legal resident from another state, he said.

?I come at this from a fairness standpoint,? he said.

* Driver?s licenses for illegal immigrants. Last month, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that allows young undocumented immigrants who receive temporary legal residency under a recently enacted Obama administration program to receive driver?s licenses. But years of efforts to make other undocumented immigrants eligible for California driver?s licenses have failed.

Medina said he supports driver?s licenses for undocumented immigrants. The state should make sure that all drivers have passed driving and written tests, he said.

?It?s a safety issue,? he said.

Batey opposes driver?s licenses.

?It?s a privilege to drive in this state? and illegal immigrants shouldn?t be eligible for such a privilege, he said.

In addition, he said, immigrants who obtain driver?s licenses could then use them as official IDs. He said that would mean terrorists would more easily be able to board airplanes and travel throughout the country.

* Instituting a law similar to Arizona?s SB 1070 in California. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down parts of the law in June, but it let stand perhaps the most controversial provision, which requires law-enforcement officers to attempt to determine the immigration status of anyone they stop when there is a ?reasonable suspicion? the person is in the country illegally. Critics have said that promotes racial profiling, because Latinos will be singled out for questioning. Supporters say it?s a valid way for the state to crack down on illegal immigration and say racial profiling is not permitted.

Medina said he opposes the measure, in part because he said it ?seems discriminatory,? and because states should not have jurisdiction over immigration law, which he sees as a federal matter.

Batey said he doesn?t know enough about the law to comment on it.

* The TRUST Act, which would have barred local law enforcement from turning arrestees over to federal immigration authorities for possible deportation unless they were charged with certain serious crimes. Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the bill last month, saying he supports the concept but that some serious crimes were not included in the bill.

Medina said he doesn?t have enough details about which crimes are described in the bill and which are not. But he said he supports the idea of not sending violators of the most minor offenses into deportation proceedings.

Batey said he supports the deportation of all those who commit crimes, no matter how minor.

?A criminal is a criminal,? he said. ?If you demonstrate you don?t want to abide by our rules, if you break into a home or commit what is called a minor crime, you have to accept the consequences.?

* I also asked the candidates whether they support proposals that would create a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, which is a federal matter but which is relevant because of the state legislation related to immigration. Both said they support a pathway to citizenship.

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Source: http://blog.pe.com/multicultural-beat/2012/10/22/bill-batey-jose-medina-talk-immigration/

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