A [[September 28, 2006]] press release from the Arizona Democratic Party ( link)

Russell Pearce Longs for Pre-Civil Rights Era Immigration Program

PHOENIX – In an interview on KJZZ Wednesday, Republican legislator Russell Pearce called for the reinstatement of Eisenhower's 1953 immigration plan, "Operation Wetback." The program, which was abolished a year later, sought to round up and deport all undocumented workers.

For the full recording: [[//www.azdem.org/page/_/downloads/Immigration%20Story%20featuring%20Russel%20Pearce.wma.asx link]]

On "Morning Edition," Pearce explained his vision of a pre-civil rights era immigration policy of mass deportation: "We know what we need to do. In 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower, put together a task force called 'Operation Wetback.' He removed, in less than a year, 1.3 million illegal aliens. They must be deported."

Hispanic leaders in Phoenix are outraged. Former legislator and activist Alfredo Gutierrez said, "His hate for Hispanics far outreaches his intellectual capacity. I'm offended by this program of massive deportation, the fact that you are going to deport 14 million undocumented workers. With 30 people to a bus, that is over 400,000 buses. That is not an immigration plan, it is an offensive fantasy."

Pearce, a staunch supporter of Republican gubernatorial candidate Len Munsil, has long been an outspoken advocate for the 1950's-era policy of mass deportation. Munsil has yet to condemn the Pearce comment or criticize his arcane policy of mass deportation...