Here is a story about illegals and it includes a comment that many politicians are afraid
to discuss the subject because they don't want to be labeled racist(I know what they mean)
It is written by an ASSOCIATED PRESS writer, like most of my thread articles are.........
I hope they are not considered a "questionable" source, they are liberals, but that is what is available

AP Top News
N.M., Ariz. Governors Debate Borders
By BARRY MASSEY
Associated Press Writer
August 30, 2005
www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-border-emergency-governors,0,7178531.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines
SANTA FE, N.M. -- With just three words -- "state of emergency" -- border state Govs. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Janet Napolitano of Arizona injected urgency into a simmering national debate over illegal immigration.

First Richardson, then Napolitano, declared a state of emergency this month in portions of their states along the border with Mexico. In doing so, they freed state money for local governments and law enforcement to cope with what they describe as increasing border crime and problems related to illegal immigration.

Politically and symbolically, the Democratic governors may have achieved much more.

"The fact that two governors out of the four on the border have issued emergency declarations should be a wake-up call for the Congress to pursue serious immigration reform," said Richardson, who is considered a possible presidential candidate in 2008.

With Richardson and Napolitano running for re-election in 2006, their emergency declarations may also help inoculate them from potential campaign attacks for their handling of immigration measures.

Napolitano says the issue isn't partisan, or at least shouldn't be. "It's a border state issue for Arizona," she said.

But Napolitano has angered Republicans by vetoing anti-immigration legislation, including a proposal that would have allowed state and local police officers to enforce federal immigration laws.

"She's the illegal-alien governor," said Arizona state Rep. Russell Pearce, a Republican.

In New Mexico -- the state with the largest percentage of Hispanics in the country -- immigration hasn't reached the same political boiling point as in neighboring Arizona, where voters approved a measure last year to deny some government benefits to illegal immigrants.

There are hints, however, that it could be divisive in New Mexico. In July, several hundred people rallied against a plan by civilian volunteers to start border patrols in New Mexico. The group is similar to dozens of anti-immigration groups that have popped up nationally, inspired by the Minuteman Project in Arizona.

Richardson has broached controversial immigration issues before. Since taking office in 2003, he has signed legislation to allow illegal immigrants to get a driver's license in New Mexico and for children of illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state college tuition.

Those actions drew the ire of some Republicans.

"How can he speak out against illegal immigration, yet give illegal immigrants incentives to come to New Mexico?" asked Roxanne Rivera, a spokeswoman for the state GOP. "He is absolutely disingenuous in his attempt to win votes."

In an interview last week, Richardson defended the new laws, saying they will help reduce the number of uninsured immigrant drivers and expand educational opportunities for children already living in New Mexico.

"New Mexico should be considered the most immigrant friendly state. I have led the way on dealing with immigrants in New Mexico in a realistic way," said Richardson.

Like Napolitano, he said his decision to issue the emergency declaration wasn't politically motivated. He said he hadn't even intended to issue the order during a recent trip to southern New Mexico that included a helicopter tour of the border. But a town meeting in Deming changed his mind.

At the meeting, ranchers talked about immigrants and drug smugglers crossing their property -- causing fence damage and cattle deaths by frightening livestock away from water tanks. The police chief in the tiny border town of Columbus had even been shot at, Richardson said.

"It was spontaneous based on what I saw at the time -- a very violent criminal situation at my border affecting the lives of my constituents," Richardson said of his emergency declaration.

There's been a 15 percent increase in the illegal immigrants apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol so far this year in the El Paso sector, which covers the border area in New Mexico and two western Texas counties. More than 106,000 had been caught by mid-August. There have been 25 deaths, up from 18 last year, according to the Border Patrol.

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, sees immigration as an emerging issue in the 2006 congressional elections and in the 2008 presidential race.

"Immigration is becoming a hot-button social issue that is going to rival abortion, gay rights, guns and the death penalty," said Sabato.

He says Richardson's emergency declaration will help him nationally while not hurting him at home. "Richardson is getting out front on an issue that right now is dividing both parties," Sabato said.

But Richardson -- because he is Hispanic -- has an advantage in the political debate over immigration, according to Sabato.

"This is what has caused Bush and many other politicians to shy away from any tough action on immigration. They fear the 'r' label_ the racist label. Almost by definition, it's tough to accuse Richardson of that. So that's why ... he's got an invulnerability shield that the other politicians would die for," said Sabato.