Arizona to Spend $250K on PR to Combat Negative Immigration Image

AP

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has approved $250,000 in state funds for a marketing campaign to help her state combat its negative associations with illegal immigration and its controversial new immigration law.

Ironically, Brewer's own high-profile statements with respect to immigration may be exacerbating the problems Arizona's tourism industry has faced in the wake of the debate over its law, a hotel spokesperson reportedly suggested.

The issue of illegal immigration was brought to the forefront of national debate after Brewer in April signed into a law a controversial measure that makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. The law requires local officials to enforce immigration rules in ways some say could lead to racial profiling. President Obama yesterday criticized the law, calling it "ill conceived."

The law prompted a rash of municipalities to enact economic boycotts of Arizona, while some industries, like professional sports, also considered boycotts.

Brewer subsequently appointed a task force to make recommendations to help the state's struggling tourism industry. After receiving the task force's recommendations this week, which called for Arizona to reassure visitors that it is "a safe and welcoming destination," Brewer approved the public funds for the marketing campaign. The Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association will contribute an additional $30,000 for the PR job.

Kristen Jarnagin, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association, said public officials have undermined the tourism industry's efforts to revive business by highlighting crime on the border, the Arizona Daily Star reports.

"The information that we're giving to support [the new immigration law] in our state is that there's massive crime happening here and (we're the) kidnapping capital," Jarnagin said. "And those don't help tourism."

Brewer, who is up for re-election this year, has capitalized on the galvanizing issue of border security in campaign materials that blast the Obama administration for not taking action at the border. She recently released a web video highlighting signs in the Arizona desert that warn visitors to stay away. Last month, in a debate with other Republican gubernatorial candidates, Brewer said most illegal immigrants crossing the border are smuggling drugs or involved with other kinds of criminal activity.

Brewer's office argues the attention the governor is putting on crime the border is justified. Just yesterday, 21 people died in a shootout in Arizona, just 12 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. A CBS News poll conducted in late May showed most Americans think illegal immigration is a serious problem and that Arizona's law is justified.

While some local governments and groups have planned boycotts in protest of the immigration law, Jarnagin told the Daily Star that most groups now canceling conferences or trips to Arizona "just don't want to be associated with the controversy."

The Obama administration plans to challenge the law in court once the Justice Department finishes building its case against it.

[Shroomduke]

Jail, Tax, or Shutdown Illegal Employers! we already have the laws we need but they are Selectively Enforced!

Stop Selective Enforcement, Jail Illegal Employers!

[colowww]

We don't need to round up and deport 12 million people. If we crack down on illegals in the work place and mostly the employers that hire them most of them will go home on their own. The fact is if we go ahead with Obamas plan our population will hit half a billion in about 50 years. If we don't reduce immigration and enforce our laws we can never reduce our carbon foot print or reduce the size of our government. We have had seven amnesties since the "first and final" one. Amnesty will only encourage the next wave of illegals.
P.S. I'm a Democrat, I'm for reducing immigration and I'm not alone. Go to Numbers USA dot com and help stop the next amnesty.

[Shroomduke]

Well Said! "ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS" & "SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT" are the REAL PROBLEMS, Putting Illegal Employers in prison will work better than any new laws, fences, prisons, or anything else!

Remember it's "ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS", enforce the laws we already have, Imprison, Tax, Fine or shutdown Illegal Employers!

[svivar9087]

This money should of been spent in ads placed, on all racist websites, attracting those you feel comfortable with, Arizona. Buisness in itself is hard enough managing it's own problems, who in their right mind wants to add more problems !

GOOD LUCK

[sky2012]

Nothing Racist about our Federal Laws.

Illegal immigration is illegal.

What part of "Illegal" do you not understand ??


Mexican people are welcome like anyone else - but follow immigration laws.

[peacefulperson99]

Don't see any Arizonans equally angry at the thousands of employers who "lure" illegals so they can be exploited for low wages and poor working conditions. Why are nearly all these illegal folks here? For jobs, of course. How about 5 to 10 years in jail for any employer employing an illegal immigrant? That might slow the illegal flow more than anything else.

[sky2012]

True and add our rampant drug use in the United States.

We have so many residents that need to get a life and off the dope.

[mm96]

If the US Gov. is not going to do anything then the states have the right to protect "Legal" citizens, since Obama want to grant amnesty to people who have broken the law and then give them health insurance! whats going to stop 50 million more illegals from entering the country. Why have a border why not just invite all the world to come and live in your neighborhood

[svivar9087]

Like many of you arizonians say, stay out of our states business....well don't worry what the Prez intends 2 do, stick to what affect arizona !

[RobAla]

It is ridiculous that a state struggling with an invasion of illegal immigrants has to spend an additional amount of money to defend itself also from attacks by President Obama. Isn't he supposed to be the President of ALL of the states? He is the most divisive President I have ever witnessed; and there have been 12 Presidents in my lifetime.

Instead of doing his job in securing the US border (including the border of Arizona and Mexico), he is attacking Americans for trying to make up for the job he fails to do. It is sickening.

[pasmalltown]

It is simply ridiculous to think that the ONLY problem AZ has at the moment is "an invasion of illegal immigrants"....... And that "securing the border" will solve ALL of AZ's problems.

Yes, he is "the President of ALL of the states", AZ being just one of them. He has to "worry about" and consider illegal immigration problems in ALL the other states as well. Even when the AZ border is secure, will the "problem" not rear it's ugly head somewhere else? And we're not just talking about illegal immigration. You fail to mention the violence and crime associated with illegal drug traffic....

And he is trying to do "his job" in securing the US border, not unlike the "12 Presidents" who came before him.....

And to think that he, Obama, is the ONLY one attacking AZ at this point in time, is "too simple" and narrow-minded to even comment on..... Reread the comments made by Kristen Jarnagin, she is quoted as saying "public officials" which is plural, "NOT" singular...

[Ghost Dancer]

I find it amazing that the state is in such financial stress, yet it now is going to spend 250K on the illegal immigration issue. Yes we do have a huge problem with illegals crossing our southern border. Yes we do have a huge problem with drugs and arms being smuggled across our southern border. Yes we have a huge problem with the drug cartels and the coyotes who are carrying out these illegal operations and we need both the feds and our state government to address them head on.

Now having said that, we also need our state government to stop spending money on pork barrel, feel good, cover their butt projects. A 1% increase (temporary -- yeah -- right) in the sales tax was recently pushed through to help offset our budget deficit. That deficit put necessary services, teachers jobs, etc. on the line and the tax increase was to offset some of those shortfalls. Did any of the voters who approved that increase agree for 250K of the state budgetary funds to be spent on this CYA campaign? I don't think so, and I object to it. 250K can be better spent in a lot of other places - Police, Teachers, Schools, Roads, etc., etc., etc.

We as tax paying citizens need to start looking at who is spending -- pissing away our state revenues and replacing them with those who will act with fiscal responsibility.

[BCranger]

These are desperate times for everyone, including our Mexican counter parts. To unjustly label them all as "criminals" is way off base. Mexicans and US citizens have co-existed for over 150 years. Where, I ask, is the compasion of fellow human beings? The US has a pretty high level of criminals in our 'home grown' citizenship. Why is Ms. Brewer not condeming our own citizens as an invasion or threat to AZ. The facts do not add up as she claims that the majirity of in the state of AZ are illegal Mexicans. Many years ago my wife worked along side with 'most likley' illegal imigrants in Santa Barbara County, picking and processing lettus. These folks were not criminals but they were unionized. I would only hope that we just catch the crooks and be able to live and let live. So, if you are unemployed get a job as a bus boy or pick some crops and quit complaining. This law should be put to a popular vote and not mandated. And, if you want cheap labor...ask a Mexican. By the way...who's doing your landscaping?

[tellthetruth72]

That's completely false about the shootout being in the U.S. It was in Mexico. Enough of the pro-Arizona propaganda -- can't we do our reporting a little more carefully? Also, the governor is an idiot. Her statement about drug smuggling border crossers is provably false, not that that matters to the racists who inhabit that benighted state.

[netaloid]

Just FYI, that shootout that killed 21 was *outside* Arizona in the Mexican state of Sonora. Maybe someone should tell the governor.

I think the mission statement for the new PR campaign should be:

"Arizona: If we seize your Hispanic or American Indian or Malaysian children, it's only for your own protection!"