Vander Plaats calls Arizona immigration law 'step in right direction'

DES MOINES – Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats on Monday called an Arizona law intended to crack down on illegal immigration a “step in the right direction” that he would favor implementing in Iowa if he were elected as Iowa's next governor.

“The first word here “illegal” says you're breaking the law, and so I think it's negligent on our part as a government just to look by this and say, you know what, they're here, we'll welcome them here – no, it's illegal,” Vander Plaats said during a discussion with the Des Moines Register editorial board that was carried live on the newspaper's website.

“I believe the Arizona law is a step in the right direction saying we are going to stand up for the rule of law,” added Vander Plaats, one of three Republicans vying to become the 2010 GOP gubernatorial nominee in the June 8 primary election.

Asked if he would proposal a similar immigration law as the one signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer last week, the Sioux City businessman said “You bet I would, and the reason is I believe leadership has an opportunity to take stands. I love this state and I love this state because we have great people who have a respect for the rule of law.

“It's awfully hard for me as a parent or for me as a leader if I get to be governor of the state of Iowa for me to say I want you to be held accountable to all these laws that we have out here and, by the way, this one doesn't matter. No, this one does matter and I think we need to have a high expectation in that area and we need to hold accountable,” he added.

The legislation signed by Brewer last Friday makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally. It also requires local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants, allows lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws, and makes it illegal to hire illegal immigrants for day labor or to knowingly transport them.

Supporters said it would allow law enforcement to deal with a growing problem of illegal immigration in a meaningful way, while critics worried it would usher in civil rights abuses and lead to racial profiling. President Barack Obama called the Arizona law “misguided” and instructed the Justice Department to examine it to see whether it's legal. He also called for the federal government to enact immigration reform at the national level.

Vander Plaats said he would be open to re-examining current immigration law with an eye on changing the process but he would oppose granting amnesty for those who violated the law to gain entry ahead of people attempting to establish legal standing by following U.S. immigration procedures.

“If there are processes that need to be changed, let's change the processes,” he said. “Is amnesty a piece of that? I would sure hope not. I have no idea why you would say we'll just grant amnesty now because you came here illegally. To me, it makes no sense. There's no common sense that I can get my arms around to say that's a good thing.”

Vander Plaats likened the situation to him traveling 90 mph when the legal posted maximum speed is 70 mph and allowing him to avoid any fine or penalty when caught violating the law.

“It's like being a high school principal and having a student handbook. That student handbook means nothing if you don't hold students accountable to the expectations in that student handbook,” he said.

Vander Plaats said the same standard should be applied to illegal immigration.

“If they're here illegal, you bet I think they should be held accountable. If you knowingly employ them illegally, you bet I believe you need to hold the accountable. If you knowingly harbor them legally, you bet you should be held accountable because there's nothing honoring about illegal immigration,” Vander Plaats said.

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