Immigration

Arizona faces a serious illegal immigration problem. Our border with Mexico remains extremely porous. There aren't enough resources at the border to halt the flow of illegal crossings. We don't have the manpower at the border to stop illegal immigrants from crossing over. In short, Arizona citizens are being put at risk due to the Federal government's complete lack of willingness to adhere to, and enforce existing immigration laws.

 

We live in a day and age where terrorists are openly attempting to acquire weapons of mass destruction to use against the United States of America. There is nothing to prevent a terrorist from walking across the border with a suitcase explosive device, or with plans to assist someone already within the country in assimilating a similar devise. Our borders must be secured, and every illegal immigrant in the United States must be accounted for.

 

I remain committed to supporting immigration reform legislation that places border security first and foremost. However, we must realize that we are both a nation of immigrants and a nation formed on the rule of law. America has a great tradition of welcoming immigrants of all ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds, though there has always been limitations on immigration and especially on achieving the desired status of American citizenship. Citizenship should be given only to those who treasure the United States and that means those who have upheld America law, and the United States Constitution.

 

I will never support any Congressional legislation to reform our immigration system that does not effectively punish those illegal immigrants who have already broken our laws. That is amnesty, and I will not tolerate such a policy being reenacted in the United States (as it was in the 1980s).

 

My state has been the focus of illegal immigration debate - especially since the passage of S.B. 1070. I wholeheartedly supported this legislation, and I continue to stand with Arizona in its fight against the Federal government to enforce existing illegal immigration laws. Arizona is not asking for a fight with the Federal government. Arizona has realized that illegal immigration is posing too large of a price, and it is taking on the responsibilities of enforcement that the Federal government will not take on itself.

 

The Federal government should not be suing Arizona for its lawsuits (which only mirror and enforce existing Federal laws). The Federal government should be in constant contact with Arizona to determine what challenges the illegal immigration problem is bringing to the state, listening to everything with an attempt to take the burden off of Arizona, The Obama Administration has sought to politicize every step of this illegal immigration process, pandering to his base instead of doing what is right for a state and for the country. No state should have to fear that its President is more concerned with political posturing at its expense rather than coming up with a efficient solution to problem.

 

If the Obama Administration was actually working towards a plan to secure Arizona's border with Mexico and towards action to take the burden of illegal immigrants off Arizona's hands, Arizona would not have had to pass S.B. 1070 in the first place. Arizona did not pass this legislation out of defiance to the Federal government; Arizona passed this legislation because of its increasing frustration with the Federal government of the lack of desire to effectively solve the problems. The Federal government wants to handicap Arizona's law enforcement potential, yet expect Arizona to pick up the tab for all of the costs illegal immigrants bring to the state. This cannot continue to happen.

 

For this reason, I, along with eighty other members of Congress, filed a "Friend of the Court" brief to support Arizona in the defense of the lawsuit. Arizona needs to understand that many of us in Congress are wholly committed to border security and true immigration reform. I hope this brief makes a positive difference, and lets the courts know that a large percentage of Congressional elected officials do not agree with what the White House is engaging in.