DFLers come up with their own immigration proposal

Meda Esperanza Paradise of St. Paul expresses a keen appreciation for the benefits of living in the United States. Paradise left her family to pursue an education not available in her native Ecuador.

Paradise credits an adult education program in St. Paul for helping her earn a high school diploma and prepare her for college. She says she's one of many people with similar goals.

"I will be very distressed if we were to try to shut our doors to immigration in this country. I frankly don't envision that happening," Paradise said. "But I understand that there's always that tendency on the part of people who are here, who haven't come here four generations earlier, want to shut the doors. And I don't think that's a good idea."

Paradise spoke at a news conference where DFL Senate leaders unveiled their immigration proposals. Their approach is focused on helping new arrivals to Minnesota, rather than preventing illegal immigration.

The Senate DFL plan would boost the funding for Adult Basic Education to help even more immigrants obtain language training. They also want recent immigrants who enroll in college to pay the lower in-state tuition rate.

The DFL plan would create income tax credits designed to help new immigrants become U.S. citizens. Another proposed tax credit would help businesses that provide worksite educational programs for immigrants. Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson says the goal is to help immigrants become productive citizens in Minnesota. "We want to be positive. We want to be welcoming. We want work through the bureaucracy. We want to work with the the governor. We want to work with the federal government to make it possible, so we have success stories over and over again," said Johnson.

Earlier this year, Gov. Pawlenty proposed several laws to help curb illegal immigration. He also offered new initiatives that would encourage legal immigration in Minnesota.

We want to be positive. We want to be welcoming.

Pawlenty's spokesman Brian McClung says the governor is glad to see Senate Democrats enter the discussion. "We feel that [they] don't go far enough in cracking down on illegal immigration," McClung said, "but we're pleased to see that they recognize that immigration reform is an important issue facing Minnesota."

Immigration is a hot topic throughout the country. A recent poll found nearly nine in 10 American voters believe illegal immigration is a serious problem. A large majority opposes issuing driver's licenses to immigrants.

The Minnesota House is considering a bill to require drivers to provide proof of citizenship when applying for a license. Rep. Steve Smith, R-Mound, is the author. He links his bill to national security.

"On Sept. 11, 2001 several of the terrorists who accessed this country and did us harm were carrying false or multiple drivers licenses. And this would be one way to try to see to it that this wouldn't happen again," said Smith.

Another Republican-backed House bill would abolish laws in Minneapolis and St. Paul that currently bar city police from asking people about their immigration status. But St. Paul Police Commander Bill Martinez says that's a change he wouldn't want to see.

"If we start enforcing immigration laws and start asking people what their immigration status is, the trust that we built with the community -- that took decades and my predecessors -- will be eroded overnight. That's not successful policing practices, and that's not what our philosophy is for community policing," said Martinez.

House committees have already begun work on several immigration-related bills. Hearings have not yet been scheduled for the Senate DFL proposals.

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