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Show DAILY HERALD A10 SundayApriU3,2008 Chertoff: No likely changes in immigration enforcement Obama's 'bitter' remarks Scott Llndlaw give Clinton an opening suggests we cant enforce the ASSOCIATED law because it will prevent people from making money illegally," Chertoff said. "The business community loves it hiring illegal immigrants because you have illegals, you pay them less, they have no place to go to complain." Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wrote Chertoff a letter last month asking federal officials to rethink their policy on workplace immigration crackdowns, saying they could have "severe and lasting effects on our local economy." Villaraigosa accused federal officials of targeting "estab- - . lished, responsible employers" and said ICE should spend its limited resources targeting employers who exploit wage and hour laws. Asked about the mayor's plea, Chertoff gave no indication that Villaraigosa would get the review and revision of ICE's enforcement priorities he PRESS - HomeSAN FRANCISCO land Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says he feels the pain of employers pinched by intensified efforts to control illegal immigration, but adds that until Congress enacts broad immigration reforms they shouldn't expect any changes in enforcement. In an interview with The Associated Press, Chertoff said this week that the rising ' complaints from businesses offer some evidence the Bush administration's approach is working. "This is harsh but accurate pVoof positive that, for the first time in decades, we've succeeded in changing the dynamic and are actually beginning to reduce illegal immigration," Chertoff said. "Unfortunately, unless you counterbalance that with a robust system to allow people to come in temporarily and legally, you're going to wind up with an economic problem." Chertoff defended the actions of his agency, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "We're enforcing the law as it is, but Congress has not yet given us the authority to really expand the temporary worker program," he said in the Tuesday interview. "If we could do, that, then most of these busi-- , nesses could find legal solu-tions." f M J? :. fa f , A 4 v V. 4 RSA2008 is seeking.- ,. "I would be delighted to , see Congress give us a way to bring workers in legally," CONFERENCE PAUL SAKUMA Associated Press security in San Francisco, Tuesday. as the US. Chamber of ComChertoff sharply criticized merce argued that the departbusinesses that complain the ment had failed to account for crackdowns on their hiring of illegal immigrants will cost the economic impact of new them money. In a federal court regulations on businesses. case last year, groups such The argument "basically Jim Kuhnhenn and Charles Babington ' political disaster that could prompt party leaders to try to steer the nomination to ClinTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS ton even though Obama has more pledged delegates. ClinMISHAWAKA, Ind. A political tempest over Barack ton supporters were eagerly Obama's comments about biti hoping so. i ter voters in small towns has They handed out "I'm not bitter" stickers in North Carogiven rival Hillary Rodham Clinton a new opening to lina, and held a conference call of Pennsylvania mayors court working class Democrats 10 days before to denounce the Illinois sena..' tor. In Indiana, Clinton did hold a primary that she must win to keep her the work herself, telling plant workers in Indianapolis that presidential campaign alive. Obama tried to quell the Obama's comments were "elitfuror Saturday, explaining his ist and out of touch." At issue are comments he remarks while also concedmade privately at a fundraiser ing he had chosen his words in San Francisco last Sunday. poorly. , "If I worded things in a way He was trying to explain his troubles winning over some that made people offended, I working-clas- s voters, saying deeply regret that," Obama said in an interview with the they have become frustrated Winston-Sale(N.C.) Journal. with economic conditions: But the Clinton campaign "It's not surprising, then, fueled the controversy in they get bitter, they cling to . guns or religion or antipathy every place and every way it could, hoping charges that who aren't like them sentiment Obama is elitist and arrogant or e will resonate with the swing or sentiment as a voters the candidates are way to explain their frustravying for not only in Pennsy- tions." , The comments, posted Fi lvania, but in upcoming primaries in Indiana and North day on The Huffington Post Carolina as well. Web site, set off a blast of Political insiders differed on criticism from Clinton, Repub-lica- n g John whether Obama's comments, McCain ancrother GOP of- which came to light Friday, would become a f icials, and drew attention, to a potential Obama weakness : the imagome have that the Harvard-trainelawyer is arrogant arid aloof. His campaign scrambled to defuse possjble damage. There has been a small "po litical flare-u- p because I said crwriAthincf that mjprvlwhr knows is true, which is that there are a Miole bunch of folks in small towns in Pennsylvania, in towns right here in Indiana, in my hometown in Illinois, who are bitter," Obama said Saturday morne meeting at a town ing at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. "They are angry. ; They feel like they have been ' left behind. They feel like nobody is paying attention to what they're going through. . "So I said, well you know, ' when you're bitter you turn to what you can count oa So people, they vote about guns, or they take comfort from ; I their faith and their family and their community. And $ they get mad about illegal immigrants who are coming over to this country." After acknowledging his previous remarks in Califor- -'' nia could have been better phrased, he added: ; "The truth is that these. traditions that are passed on from generation to gen-- ; eration, those are important. That's whatsustains us. But what is absolutely true is that ? people don't feel like they are i t being listened to." ' . m Chertoff said. "Those workers would then be able to address the economic needs of the city and they would do it in a legal way. But as long as the law is as it is, I will enforce the law as it is." Villaraigosa spokesman Matt Szabo said the mayor hopes to discuss the matter with Chertoff in person soon when he visits Washington.' 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