Immigration is the latest issue to capture candidates' attention

Immigration and the security of the nation's borders are one of the cause celebres of this year's election on the state and national levels.

How secure are the borders? Are we doing enough to make theme secure? Whose responsibility is it? Is the federal government doing its job or are federal officials abdicating the responsibility to the states?

The latest twist to the debate is President Bush's proposal to send thousands of National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexican border to help stop the flood of illegal immigrants.

Under the plan, Guard troops would be rotated to border states to serve two-week stints, keeping the force level at 6,000 people. Bush said the troops would fill in temporarily while the nation's Border Patrol is expanded.

According to an Associated Press story, the Border Patrol would still be responsible for catching and detaining illegal immigrants, with National Guard troops providing intelligence gathering, surveillance and other administrative support.

Idaho's gubernatorial candidates have already weighed in, both agreeing that the plan is a sign of the federal government's failure to secure the country's borders. And, while both agree the Guard may have to play a role, U.S. Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter, R-Idaho, wants Bush to free up funding so governors in state adjoining the border can make their own decisions. Democrat Jerry Brady favors an alternative being proposed by Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, that allows some of the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S. to apply for citizenship if they meet certain criteria.

With the primary next week and what promises to be a heated election in November, there's going to be no shortage of talking about the issues. Hopefully, the politicians will also propose some common sense solutions.

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee.