October 31, 2007

Mike Huckabee defends Mexico consulate deal (businesses agreed to pay Mexico's bills; law violated?)

Mike Huckabee is the new establishment favorite GOP presidential contender, and one reason is probably because he'd keep the cheap labor flowing. In fact, he encouraged Mexico to build a consulate in his state with the obvious intent of providing a workforce for Arkansas' low-wage employers. Jerome Corsi asked him to defend his actions:

A lingering controversy over the role former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee played in establishing a Mexican consulate office in Little Rock financed by taxpayers and local businesses continues to follow the Republican presidential candidate's campaign, even as he enjoys a surge in polls.

Critics in Arkansas contend Huckabee worked with some of the state's most prominent and politically powerful businesses to draw illegal immigrants to the state to accept low-paying jobs.

Huckabee strongly denied the charges in a telephone interview with WND yesterday...

Others mentioned include his then-economic development adviser Robert Trevino, who was also an official with the League of United Latin American Citizens. Trevino later was appointed commissioner of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services; they leased space to Mexico in a state office building at $1 per year.

And:

A July 21, 2006, memo from Trevino's office also documents that a consortium of Arkansas corporations had agreed to "support the consular presence" during the first three years, including what appears to be the costs of building for Mexico a permanent consular facility in Little Rock.

Much more at the link. And, I urge everyone to go to the Huckster's campaign appearances and ask him this question:

UPDATE: "Legality of Huckabee's Mexican consulate deal questioned" has more, including the possibility that the scheme might have violated the law:

Ark. Code Ann. Section 22-2-114(C)(i) provides: "After July 1, 1975, no state agency shall enter into or renew or otherwise negotiate a lease between itself as lessor or lessee and a nongovernmental or other government lessor or lessee."

And:

"Even more offensive, there was nothing in the lease or other agreements that would have prevented the Mexican consulate from providing legal assistance to illegal aliens," [Arkansas attorney Chip Sexton] told WND. "We have information that the Mexican consulate operating out of the Arkansas Rehabilitation Facility was providing legal assistance even to Mexican illegal aliens who were accused of committing violent crimes in Arkansas."

Posted to Immigration2007b at October 31, 2007 12:03 PM