Leaders criticize Prop 200 campaign

A day after Proposition 200 became law, Arizona's most influential Latinos were blaming each other for the failure to stop the immigration measure and are urging immigrants to be wary of anyone asking them for money to continue the court battle. Some Latino leaders are questioning efforts already under way asking immigrants to donate $1 each to continue the fight against Proposition 200. A federal judge allowed it to become law on Wednesday. Among other things, the law calls for state and local government workers to report suspected undocumented immigrants seeking public benefits.  Top Latinos said Thursday they now feel more could have been done to defeat the measure at the ballot box. Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix, blasted the election campaign against Proposition 200, saying a big failure was not to involve Latinos in general and immigrants in particular. "It's important to recognize that the campaign against Prop. 200 was poorly run," Miranda said. "It was poorly run because we were scared that we were going to be looked upon as people out there waving the Mexican flag." Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, a top Latina and one of the initial opponents of the measure, said the criticism is only a reflection of defeat. "There is frustration because we lost," Wilcox said. "There are different opinions about what we should have been done." Miranda, who believes that part of the problem was not involving immigrants in the campaign, is organizing a new coalition designed to attract immigrants, church officials, students and others outside the Latino political establishment.  [more]