CONCERN GROWS OVER NOMINEE FOR BORDER BOSS

WASHINGTON -- Hispanic civil rights groups say they're concerned Asa
Hutchinson, scheduled to become the nation's first undersecretary of
border and aviation security, might be too heavy-handed with immigrants.

Hutchinson, the former Arkansas congressman who headed the Drug
Enforcement Administration, is expected to be confirmed by the Senate
this week in his new post in the Homeland Security Department.

He'll oversee 100,000 of the department's 170,000 employees, including
the Border Patrol, the Customs Service and the Transportation Security
Administration, which is responsible for airport screeners.
Hutchinson's mission will be to protect U.S. soil from terror attacks.

Some Hispanic groups say his record has been hostile to
immigrants.

"He definitely has not been friendly on our issues," said Brent
Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin
American Citizens, a Hispanic civil rights group. "He does not value
the contributions of immigrants and does not pay much heed to the
plight of undocumented immigrants in the United States and instead
solely thinks of law enforcement and the methods and strategies you
can use to expel undocumented immigrants."

Katherine Culliton, an immigrants' rights attorney with the Mexican
American Legal Defense and Education Fund, a Hispanic civil rights
group, said Hutchinson lacks experience with the Hispanic community.

"We think that his leadership of the division could lead to the
failure to protect against our Customs agents and Border Patrols
committing grave violations of immigrants' rights," Culliton said.
"We're very concerned that Hutchinson's strong background in law
enforcement and drug prosecution will not be balanced by concerns for
the fair treatment of immigrants."

Advocates for immigrants and Latinos cite these parts of Hutchinson's
record:

When the Clinton administration proposed providing amnesty to 6
million to 10 million undocumented immigrants -- primarily from Mexico
- -- " then-Congressman Hutchinson signed a dear colleague letter to
Speaker Dennis Hastert, opposing the amnesty.

As a congressman, he voted against the so-called 245(i) provision,
which allows undocumented workers who've been in the United States for
more than a year and who are eligible to become legal permanent
residents to do so without returning to their home country, as long as
they pay a fine of $1,000.

Hutchinson supported an amendment that became law in October 2000
authorizing the use of U.S. troops on the border.

He voted against a measure by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., in 2000
that would have required some companies to increase the hiring of
blacks and Hispanics to qualify for the H1-B worker program, which
provides visas to skilled foreign workers.

Hutchinson also received an "A" grade by Americans for Better
Immigration, a group that presses for reductions in
immigration.

Hutchinson's responsibility for border security stems from the split
of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, formerly part of the
Justice Department, into two divisions inside the Homeland Security
Department.

The Bureau of Border Security under Hutchinson will handle the Border
Patrol, detention and removal of undocumented immigrants,
intelligence, investigations and inspections.

The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services -- located
elsewheere in the department -- will be responsible for processing
immigrant visa petitions, naturalization petitions, asylum and refugee
applications.

Hutchinson, 53, has earned plaudits on both sides of the aisle in
Congress and received a unanimous vote of approval from the Senate
Commerce Committee last week.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, says his congressional experience
makes him well suited for the new post. She predicted that he'll have
far-reaching responsibility because "this department is so big and
he's over one of the most important parts of it."

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said Hutchinson is a good pick because
"he's got the ear of the administration."

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., says Hutchinson should have "the staying
power" to improve border security, in contrast to the federal
government's history of launching border programs only to let them
phase out.

Hutchinson, 53, was thrust into the national spotlight as one of the
House members selected to prosecute President Clinton in his
impeachment trial.

Hutchinson grew up on a farm in Gravette, Ark., graduated from Bob
Jones University and entered the University of Arkansas Law School the
same year Clinton began teaching there.

He became U.S. attorney in western Arkansas at age 30 in 1981, making
him the youngest U.S. attorney in the country. There, he prosecuted
Roger Clinton, the former president's brother, for cocaine possession.

He also served as Arkansas Republican Party chairman from 1990 to
1995, then was elected to the House in 1996, winning the Northwest
Arkansas seat previously held by his brother Tim, who ascended to the
Senate.

In Congress, Hutchinson sought to have the tranquilizer Rohypnol, used
by rapists to quiet victims, made a schedule I drug.

He also protested China's human rights violations.

In 2001, President Bush named Hutchinson to head the DEA.