Jim Edgar to back immigration reform

-- including some legalization


Posted by Greg H. at 4/7/2010 1:06 PM CDT on Chicago Business

One of Illinois' top Republicans is getting ready to publicly endorse comprehensive immigration reform — including at least some steps to allow some of those who are now here illegally to stay in the country.

In remarks titled "Immigration reform is necessary for Illinois' economy," former Gov. Jim Edgar will discuss steps he thinks Congress needs to take, steps that are likely to be quite unpopular with portions of his party.

In a phone interview, Mr. Edgar said he's "always been a proponent that we need to do something in (new) immigration law. This current situation is not healthy."

"Immigrants are an important part of our economy," Mr. Edgar added. "If we didn't have them (here), we'd be in trouble."

The current national uncertainty "is not good," he said. "You're not going to deport everybody that's here (illegally). The personal and financial cost would be very disruptive." At the same time, "we need to look more at allowing temporary workers in (the U.S.) than in the past."

Mr. Edgar said his talk would be more "remarks" than speech — and he's planning to write them while taking the train up to Chicago later on Wednesday.

He didn't specifically endorse any particular bill. The Obama White House has been promising to move on something soon. But his bottom line: "I don't think this is something we can continue to avoid."

Mr. Edgar's comments are to come at an event sponsored by a variety of business and social groups including the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the Chinatown and Illinois Hispanic chambers of commerce and the Illinois Restaurant Assn.

Those groups and about 200 others are forming the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition, a new organization to promote immigration changes.Though the immigration issue has faded with the economy in the past couple of years, it remainsxtremely contentious. It should be really interesting to see how the remarks by Mr. Edgar, who has not sought public office for more than a decade, play with other Republicans who are running now, including U.S. Senate hopeful Mark Kirk and GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Brady.