Shadegg discusses border issues

An Arizona congressman charged with uniting the views of his fellow Republicans on immigration said a comprehensive reform package will likely be introduced early next year.

Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., spoke Friday to members of the Arizona Farm Bureau, a nonprofit organization that represents more than 4,000 farmers and ranchers across the state.

Shadegg was selected by House Republican leaders earlier this year to develop a consensus plan for immigration reform. For months, he has been meeting with party factions to pull together ideas that would address concerns about border security and unending waves of illegal immigration.

On Friday, Shadegg told farm bureau members that an immigration reform measure needs to recognize the "absolutely essential" need for a secure border while also recognizing "the need of the American marketplace for workers south of the border."

"Many of these people are doing jobs that would otherwise not get done. You know it," Shadegg said.

Shadegg said House Republicans will introduce a measure this year that sets out provisions to detain and deport illegal immigrants of non-Hispanic descent that cross the Mexican border. Such people "come across and we can’t hold them because we don’t have adequate facilities."

The hope is that the measure will also "raise the penalties for human smugglers so that they are somewhat equal to the penalties for drug smuggling," Shadegg said.

"The House will do that. The Senate will not act on it. Then both bodies will, I hope, move forward on comprehensive reform in the January-February-March timeframe. But definitely before next fall’s election," Shadegg said.

During a question-and-answer session, Pima County rancher Micaela McGibbon asked Shadegg to do something soon. McGibbon said her family’s two ranches are almost like forts, requiring a 24-hour family presence or the buildings will be, and have been, burglarized.

McGibbon said that she fears for her safety and that of those who cross.

"One of our cowboys found five dead bodies this summer," she said.

She told Shadegg that when she called the Border Patrol recently about six illegal immigrants on her front porch, agents there said, "Ma’am, you have to hang up and call the sheriff," because her ranch is private property.

"I told ’em that they’ve already committed a felony . . . It’s one of these really frustrating deals," McGibbon said later.

Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., also spoke to farm bureau members during the last day of their two-day annual convention.

Agreeing with calls for a worker provision for illegal immigrants, Flake said there is an "overwhelming misconception" that illegal workers are found only in the agricultural and hospitality industries.

Flake said an immigration reform package must encompass homeland security issues, border issues and an enforceable work program.

"Let’s do it all at once and wait till January," Flake said of reform measures.