Controversy over remarks by U.S. Sen. John McCain about illegal immigrants and wildfires flared again Thursday, as Hispanic politicians and activists reacted to the filing of federal charges accusing two U.S. citizens of accidentally starting the state's largest wildfire.
Current and former legislators and other Hispanic leaders said during a news conference that the McCain, an Arizona Republican, should apologize for saying in July that illegal immigrants have started "some fires."
Former state Rep. John Loredo, D-Phoenix, and others said McCain engaged in race-baiting at the time by not specifying after touring the Wallow Fire what fires he was talking about.
"He owes it to us to not spread fear and hate," said Daniel Ortega, a Phoenix attorney who is board chair of the National Council of La Raza.
McCain's office responded with a statement saying McCain wasn't referring to the Wallow Fire when he said "some fires" were started by illegal immigrants and smugglers.
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No apology is owed or coming because the Forest Service had told McCain during a briefing that illegal immigrants have started some fires along the border.
McCain's contention that illegal immigrants have started fires is supported by recent testimony to a congressional panel by a Forest Service official, Assistant Deputy Chief Jim Peña.
Peña said Forest Service investigations were able to identify people responsible in 31 of 457 human-caused fires from 2002-2011 in Coronado National Forest areas along the U.S.-Mexico-border.
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the filing of a criminal complaint accusing two cousins from Benson and Tucson of accidentally starting the Wallow Fire.
