Minnesota Governor Pawlenty Calls for More Legal Immigration

After months of inflammatory rhetoric about the cost of illegal immigration, including a statement last week calling for a crackdown, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of MN showed the softer side of his personality this week, calling for an increase in legal immigration, accompanied by policies to help immigrants find jobs, learn English and become citizens.  A story from the St. Paul Pioneer Press, which includes more details on the proposal, is here.  The Governor’s efforts earned mixed reviews, particular coming – as they did – after a wave of harsher rhetoric.  The policy initiative does signal at least a small step in a direction that acknowledges some of the benefits of immigration and challenges to new immigrants.

But the Pioneer Press quotes Alison Quito Ziegler, interim director of the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network, who points out, “It’s good that the governor is trying to do something positive to create legal paths of immigration. But the governor’s proposal doesn’t fully address the breadth of immigrants in Minnesota, the majority of whom are working in agriculture and the meatpacking industry.”

-jmc