A New Direction: Cracking down on illegals in Arizona is losing luster in down economy.

• Date: 26 September 2011
• Author: del Puerto, Luige

Byline: Luige del Puerto

With another election season fast approaching, border security remains a priority, but many lawmakers and political insiders say support for local immigration-enforcement measures appears to be waning.

The prevailing mood is that lawmakers might not have the appetite to wage emotionally draining battles over illegal immigration at a time when the state faces a more immediate menace ù a sagging economy and the loss of 300,000 jobs during the recession.

Even Senate President Russell Pearce, the architect of ArizonaÆs go-it- alone efforts to curb illegal immigration, has recently made a message makeover, emphasizing his accomplishments for small businesses and tax cuts.

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But even if Pearce or other hawks push for more anti-illegal immigration measures, other hurdles remain.

First, they will have to win over the same Senate that already rejected five controversial immigration measures last session, including a proposal that supporters say was aimed at getting the U.S.

Supreme Court to ultimately deny automatic citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants.

ThatÆs assuming Pearce, who is facing an historic recall election on Nov. 8, retains his seat this year.

ôI would assume given the makeup of the body, which hasnÆt changed, that you would have the same outcome as you had last year, which was nothing,ö said Chuck Coughlin, a top adviser to Gov. Jan Brewer and a close supporter of Pearce.

Those defeated measures...