Republican state senator says comprehensive immigration reform needed

SAN ANTONIO, TX - Arizona State Senator Rich Crandall, a Republican from Mesa, told lawmakers from across the country Wednesday that an "enforcement only" approach will not do enough to solve the problem of illegal immigration in Arizona or nationwide.

He spoke during a session at the National Conference of State Legislatures annual summit in San Antonio.

Crandall says he would like to see a more comprehensive approach to immigration reform and is looking to how other states, like Texas, have addressed the issue. He told ABC15, "enforcement only" approaches are not a long term, realistic solution to illegal immigration.

However, Crandall said he doesn't believe Arizona lawmakers are ready to embrace a "guest worker" program, which Texas has considered and Republican Governor Rick Perry has supported.

Crandall pointed out differences of opinion on immigration policy he has with Senator Russell Pearce, also a Republican representing Mesa.

He told the audience, "There is a point at which you say, is this belief working. If we get rid of all the illegal immigrants in the state, will it solve our problems?”

During the NCSL session titled "Testing the Constitution: State Immigration Laws and the Courts," Crandall said Arizona has unique challenges with criminal activity along the border and border incursions, drug trafficking and human smuggling crimes must be brought under control.

Crandall told the audience of about 150 legislators, legislative staff and lobbyists, despite court challenges that have put most of SB1070 on hold, the legislation has had an effect on the population and economy of Arizona.

The state's tourism industry took a big hit after SB1070 was signed by Governor Brewer, according to Crandall.

"There was a significant hit to our economy, I don’t care what anyone says. There was a significant drop in tourism in the summer of 2010. We have now bounced back and we’re starting to come back," he told fellow lawmakers.

"Have people moved out Arizona, have illegal immigrants left Arizona? Yes, in huge numbers. We don’t have concrete evidence. But we’ve seen a significant drop of students in the Mesa school district. Nine thousand fewer students in the district in the last five years," he said.

Crandall says many in the legislature and citizens in Arizona believed, removing hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants from the state would result in more money for education, law enforcement, health care and other state priorities. But he believes the money saved does not translate into more money for spending in other areas. Crandall says it's simply money not spent.

Crandall said the upcoming recall election affecting Senator Russell Pearce will be a key indicator of where immigration policy goes next in Arizona.