Boost US borders: Schwarzenegger

May 09, 2005
CALIFORNIA Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who recently angered his state's Hispanic community with his views on illegal immigration, called on the US federal government to boost patrols along the US border with Mexico.

"We have the money to do it," Schwarzenegger told the Fox News Sunday television program.

"It's not a lack of money. We can afford the war in Iraq. We can afford to control our own borders."

The US-Mexican border can be secured "by just having more patrol," he said.

"That's what every country does. It's not reinventing the wheel. That's a no-brainer. You don't have to be a brain surgeon or anything like this to figure that one out. If you have not enough border patrol, the people can go through left and right."

Schwarzenegger, who emigrated from Austria in 1968, came under fire last month by praising the controversial "Minutemen," a group of American volunteers patrolling the US-Mexican border in Arizona.

"The federal government has to solve" illegal immigration, he said.

"But if the federal government falls short of doing their job and fulfilling their responsibility and the promise to the people, then the average citizen will rise up and will do their job."

Schwarzenegger had also drawn a storm of criticism last month by suggesting that the United States should simply close its borders to stop the inflow of illegal immigrants.

He later corrected himself, saying he meant to say "securing" instead of "closing."

"It's very important to know I meant secure the borders," he reiterated Sunday.

The Hollywood action star refused to say whether he will run for re-election in 2006.

"This is not the year to make those announcements," he said.

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