The governors of New Mexico and Arizona recently declared a "state of emergency" over what they characterized as a growing wave of illegal immigration, drawing national attention to frustrations that have reached a boiling point in those border states.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano accuse the federal government of negligence and inattention in dealing with illegal immigration-related problems gripping counties that border the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua.
Question: What does it mean to declare a "state of emergency?"
Answer: A state of emergency means something so serious has happened that government must step in to send money or resources to the affected area. Emergency declarations are usually made by states in response to natural disasters such as fires or floods, and are often accompanied by requests for federal disaster relief.
Q: Has California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also declared an emergency along the border?
A: Not so far, though he has been pressured to do so. Schwarzenegger makes two points: he says the situation along California's border is not as severe as it may be for other states -- indeed, the U.S. Border Patrol reports that arrests are down from previous years. Also, the governor says the California Emergency Services Act, which authorizes such declarations, does not specify illegal immigration as a potential emergency cause.
Q: What do the emergency declarations bring to each state?
A: Money. In the case of New Mexico, it made $750,000 in state emergency funding immediately available to the counties of Dona Ana, Luna, Grant and Hidalgo -- among the nation's busiest gateways for illegal immigration. Richardson also pledged an additional $1 million from a separate emergency pool.
In Arizona, the declaration freed $1.5 million from the governor's $4-million emergency fund for use in Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties.
In addition to allowing the governors to quickly tap emergency funds, the declarations empower them to marshal equipment, personnel and other resources.
Q: Is either state seeking federal aid?
A: No. There is no expectation that a state's emergency will trigger matching federal dollars, though spokespeople for Richardson and Napolitano say they hope their declarations spur the federal government to better control the border.
Q: Under what authority did the governors make these emergency declarations?
