Immigration divides GOP Senate hopefuls

SPRINGFIELD -- The three Republicans vying for the U.S. Senate nomination all oppose amnesty programs for illegal immigrants but disagree on whether it's realistically possible to deport the millions already here.

"Of course we can (deport millions), provided it is the will of the people," said Chicago trucker Mike Psak in response to a Daily Herald questionnaire. "And that is one of the major issues facing voters in this election."

Chicago Internet author Andy Martin disagreed.

"It is not practical to deport 12 million people," said Martin. "We should secure the border, put aliens who have committed crimes on a fast track to removal and allow attrition and employment verification to take their course."

Willowbrook physician Steve Sauerberg favors securing the Mexico border, eliminating benefits and tightening identification requirements to make those here feel unwelcome.

"Doing so will encourage illegals to repatriate and self-deport on their own," said Sauerberg, who supports making it a crime to cash checks, open a bank account or wire money out of the country without a valid state or federal ID.

All three -- Martin, Psak and Sauerberg -- seek the GOP nomination to face incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Springfield, who is unopposed in the state's Feb. 5 primary.

In responding to a series of Daily Herald immigration questions, the Republican hopefuls agreed that U.S employers should face criminal charges for hiring illegal immigrants. Martin and Sauerberg stressed that there must first be a national verification system.

All three also oppose using the military to find and detain illegal immigrants to await deportation.

"Enforcing immigration laws is not a military duty," said Martin.

However, Psak said deploying troops to stop border crossings "would certainly be warranted."

The three Republicans differed on whether local police should be required to enforce federal immigration laws. Both Psak and Sauerberg offered support for mandating local enforcement.

"We are a nation of laws, and those laws should be enforced and respected," said Sauerberg.

Martin disagreed, saying the decision should be local. "I would not force them to do so," he said.

The candidates all oppose states granting legitimate driving privileges to illegal immigrants. Plans to do so have been proposed in Illinois but have not become law.

But they split on whether the federal government should prohibit states from doing so.

Martin is against imposing federal penalties.

However, Psak said states granting such licenses ought to face stiff constitutional and legal penalties.

And Sauerberg favored withholding federal transportation dollars.

"I believe that we should prohibit states from issuing identification cards of driver's licenses or any other type of official state recognition to non-citizens," he said.