Reid rallies Hispanic voters to prevent border wall

By Timothy Pratt (contact)

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006 | 7:27 a.m.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid urged Nevada's Spanish-language media Wednesday to try to arouse Hispanic opposition to an upcoming Senate vote over building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Reid, D-Nev., said he and other senators who favor comprehensive immigration reform over enforcement-only measures would be "doing everything we can to stop" the bill. Still, he said, he believes "it's going to pass."

The Senate vote is expected Monday.

Reid said he was disappointed he could not get help fighting the fence provision from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Reid said McCain had been tied up with the issue of questioning alleged terrorists being detained at Guantanamo Bay.

Reid spoke from Washington to Spanish-language media in Nevada in what was billed as a telephone press conference to "discuss key issues affecting Nevada Latinos."

It was mostly a pep rally of sorts.

Reid urged Hispanics to vote, to contact Congress about the upcoming immigration vote and to stop Republicans from winning office.

He pointed to the recent attempt in the House to move parts of the stalled immigration bill, which sparked nationwide protests this spring, into new legislation. "(The) only way this is ever going to be resolved is at the ballot box," Reid said. "Republicans know Hispanics don't vote.

"We Democrats are more idealistic and are doing whatever we can to make this a country where people can live out their dreams."

Reid said he was concerned that since the May 1 marches and others, there had been "no visible difference in (voter) registration numbers."

Reid touted his party as a true friend to Hispanics, advancing a plan that he said would be released today - "The Democratic Hispanic Agenda: A New Direction for Latino Families."

The agenda, produced by House and Senate Democrats and the Hispanic Congressional Caucus, includes support for immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship, increasing health insurance for Hispanics and strengthening relationships with Latin America.

Reid indirectly also put in a pitch for his former press secretary, Tessa Hafen, when he criticized her opponent in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District - incumbent Republican Rep. Jon Porter.

"Porter voted for this bill that makes a felon out of everyone," Reid said, referring to the House bill that brought on the protests .

And because parts of the current legislation were taken from the earlier bill, Reid urged opposition to it.

"Tell your colleagues," he said. "Tell your friends."