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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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 ANALYSIS 
1

Napolitano Pick Suggests Focus on Immigration

Rumored Homeland Security nominee has hawk cred on border

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(Newser) – If Janet Napolitano is indeed Barack Obama’s pick for Homeland Security chief, it likely signals a shift in the department away from terrorism and toward immigration issues, CQPolitics reports. The Arizona governor has been on the front lines of the immigration battle. “She would do a pretty serious systematic review of the border strategy,” a Clinton administration immigration official said.

Napolitano, who gets rave reviews from current DHS boss Michael Chertoff and Arizona Sen. John McCain, isn’t a pure immigration hawk. She’s set up systems to verify the status of new hires, but opposes border fencing. Other fans point to Napolitano’s executive experience—necessary to run the big, young department—and legal background—a perspective some say the Bush administration ignored at Homeland Security.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on health-care coverage issues, Nov. 13, 2008.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on health-care coverage issues, Nov. 13, 2008.   (AP Photo)
In this Nov. 13, 2008, file photo, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano testifies on Capitol Hill.
In this Nov. 13, 2008, file photo, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano testifies on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo)
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano celebrates the evening's victories at the Arizona Democratic Party's election night celebration in Phoenix, Ariz. Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano celebrates the evening's victories at the Arizona Democratic Party's election night celebration in Phoenix, Ariz. Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Aaron J. Latham)
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She’s in a Republican-leaning state where voters want tight immigration control, so she’s postured in a hawkish manner. - Mark Krikorian, executive director,
Center for Immigration Studies,
on Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano

Gov. Napolitano’s experience as the former U.S. attorney for Arizona, Arizona’s attorney general, and as governor warrants her rapid confirmation by the Senate and I hope she is quickly confirmed. - John McCain

I was a US attorney with her and I worked extensively with her as governor of Arizona. I think she’s an outstanding governor, she was a great US attorney and a terrific friend. I have nothing but good things to say about her. - Michael Chertoff

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petepenguin
Nov 21, 08 11:30 PM CST
McCain's glad because she was going to beat his ass in 2 years for his senate seat.She still might. Reply
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