Clinton voices support for deported Iowa immigrant

IOWA CITY – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday took up the cause of an Iowa City immigrant who was deported over a 16-year-old misdemeanor conviction.

During a campaign stop here, Clinton referred to the controversial case of Max Villatoro, a Mennonite pastor-in-training who was arrested at his home on March 3 and wound up being deported to his native Honduras. The case has gained widespread attention from immigration-reform advocates, who say Villatoro, 41, was an upstanding member of the community unjustly ripped away from his family.

Clinton agreed with a Villatoro supporter, who said federal authorities should have used their discretion not to deport him. She noted that the deportation was based on a misdemeanor charge from the 1990s. "He was from all accounts, everything I've read and heard, a contributing member of the community. And for the life of me, I don't understand why he was deported," she said. "And I would think we would have to take a hard look at cases like that and exercise more discretion."

She credited the Obama administration with making progress on the issue, but said she would push for more movement toward reforming the country's broken immigration system. "I still think we should deport dangerous people, dangerous criminals — they should be gone," she said. "But for people who have maybe one small blemish on their record, and they've proven over the years since that they are contributing citizens, I think we should show them understanding and permit them and their families to stay together."

Federal authorities have defended Villatoro's deportation, saying it was a legitimate part of a sweep of unauthorized immigrants who'd committed crimes. His lawyer has said the charge stemmed from an attempt to gain a driver's license.

Clinton's remarks on the case came in response to a question from Aliese Gingerich, 22, of Iowa City. Gingerich said afterward that she has been working on immigration advocacy in Iowa and when she went to college in Pennsylvania.

She was glad to hear Clinton address the issue. "I think it's heartening that she is saying that she wants to pass comprehensive immigration reform and work hard with bipartisan efforts that she cited, and things she's done in the past. I would really like to hear a little bit more specifically what she wants to pass exactly."

The Iowa City stop was one of two Clinton scheduled in Iowa on Tuesday, on her fourth trip to the state since she announced her candidacy in April. It was only the second event so far that was open to the general public, and it was the first one at which she took questions from voters who hadn't received invitations beforehand.

The audience's questions focused on issues such as the use of military force, how to expand and protect the Affordable Care Act and how to improve education. On the education question, Clinton stressed that she wants the country to get away from an over-reliance on standardized tests and uniform instruction methods. "We have a broad range of kids. We can't teach them all the same way," she said.

More than 350 people attended Clinton's event Tuesday at the Iowa City public library, but scores more failed to get in because of a lack of space.

Iowa City is known as the most liberal spot in Iowa. That could make it prime territory for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a populist who is mounting a surprisingly strong Democratic challenge on Clinton's left flank. He has been rising in the polls and drawing crowds in the thousands in Iowa and other states.

Clinton told reporters after her event Tuesday that she was not surprised to see Sanders have some success.

"This is going to be competitive, and it should be competitive," she said. "It's only the presidency of the United States we're talking about. So, you know, the more the better. Let's get everybody out there, let's get everybody working hard, running their own campaigns and then we'll leave it up to Iowa to decide what happens."

Several voters who came to Clinton's Iowa City event said they like what Sanders says, especially on the issue of income inequality. But they also are skeptical of his ability to win the general election.

"In a perfect world, yes, I would support him, but I'm not going to throw my vote away," said Tom Braverman, 51, of Iowa City, who is a special-education teacher. He said that if Democrats nominated Sanders, they would be making the same kind of mistake Republicans will make if they nominate a far-right candidate.

The library meeting room the campaign chose for the event only held a few hundred people. Far more than that came to the library Tuesday morning, hoping to see Clinton. At one point, the line outside stretched more than two blocks.

Undecided voter Shawn Harmsen, 42, of Iowa City said he had hoped to ask Clinton a question in person. He stood about two hours in line, but was more than a third of the way back. "For the people who get in, it'll be great," he said of the relatively small venue. "But for those who don't get in — will they come back next time?"

Peg Voelker, 53, of Iowa City stood about two-thirds of the way back in line. About a half hour before the event started, she said she realized she probably wouldn't get in to see Clinton. "But we're glad to stand in line to show our support," she said. Even if she didn't get in this time, she said, she would be back for future Clinton events and would volunteer for the candidate.

Voelker, who is self-employed, said she supported Democratic rival John Edwards when Clinton ran for the nomination in 2008. She was afraid then that Clinton would be unable to withstand relentless personal attacks by opponents. But she now believes the attacks have allowed Clinton to show her true colors. "She has a proven track record of standing up and being productive no matter what they throw at her," Voelker said.

After the Iowa City event, Clinton headed to Ottumwa for a "house party," which is the kind of event that has been the backbone of her Iowa campaign so far.

In response to a question there about how she could counter conservatives' anger, she said Democrats can't give up.

"There is no substitute for intensive, never-ending efforts at relationship building," she said. "And I do think President Obama tried and tried and tried. But I also think you can never quit. You have to keep looking for those opportunities that maybe will lead to something positive. I ended up working with people in the Senate who had been incredibly negative about my husband and me. As secretary of state, I worked with a lot of Republicans."

Such efforts don't always succeed, she said, but "you have to deprive the Republicans of the argument that we are not trying."

On the other hand, she said, she also backs aggressive efforts to elect more Democrats, including to Congress.

SETTING: Iowa City Public Library and a house party in Ottumwa.

CROWD: More than 350, plus scores who couldn't get in at the library, and about 60 at the house.

REACTION: A friendly audience responded several times with applause at the library. Invited supporters at the house party were also enthusiastic.

WHAT'S NEXT: Clinton is set to participate along with other Democratic presidential candidates in the state party's July 17 "Hall of Fame Celebration" in Cedar Rapids.