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Sunday, March 19, 2006

Features And Opinions

Border security is priority No. 1

Saturday, March 18, 2006 11:46 PM MST

COMMENTARY BY GAIL GRIFFIN

SPECIAL TO THE HERALD/REVIEW

No one can deny that border security is one of the most serious problems in our state. In fact, more than 50 percent of illegal alien arrests in the United State are made along Arizona’s 370-mile border with Mexico.

The Border Patrol estimates one in five illegals are apprehended. Some believe that number is higher. The February numbers from the Border Patrol for the Tucson Sector are 42,837 illegal aliens arrested (that averages 1,529 per day), 71,519 pounds or 35.7 tons of marijuana were confiscated, 465 vehicles carrying illegal aliens or drugs were confiscated, and assaults on Border Patrol agents were numerous.

We are seeing increased levels of violence along our southern border with Mexican military incursions into the United States and the rise in the number of criminals coming across our borders. According to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, more than 42,000 illegal aliens with criminal records — felonies, homicides, kidnapping, sexual assaults, etc. — have been apprehended within the last five months. In Cochise County, 359 illegal aliens were incarcerated with felony charges.

Everyone in the Republican Party understands the need to work together to find a solution to this ever-increasing problem. For every step forward the Arizona Legislature has made to address the issue of illegal entry and border security, it seems the governor has pushed them two steps back. Most recently, the governor vetoed legislation that would have provided funding to place the National Guard along the border to provide security. By so doing, she went against her own executive order signed earlier that week that called for additional National Guard assistance if funding were provided by the Legislature. In addition to this most recent veto, the governor has vetoed at least five other legislative measures that would have worked to decrease this serious problem.


The National Guard can be used to assist the Border Patrol in transportation and processing illegal aliens apprehended, thereby putting the Border Patrol on the border performing the job they are trained to do — not doing traffic control.

City, county and state officials have reported tremendous strains on law enforcement, medical services, our criminal justice system and our schools. Hospitals are on the verge of closing.

Many U.S. citizens living near the border are respectful stewards of the land. They know and appreciate the benefits of our close relationship with our Mexican brothers and sisters. Cochise County includes some of the most culturally diverse regions in America, and we are proud of our heritage and are respectful of our neighbors and responsibilities.

The safety of U.S. citizens, the enforcement of our laws and the protection and security of our borders is a duty and obligation we cannot shirk.

We continue to hear this is a federal issue. Yes, it is. However, when our failed federal immigration policies are affecting the safety of citizens of this state, it is the responsibility of the state to take action and secure our borders and protect our citizens. We don’t know who is crossing our border. They come from Russia, China, India, Mexico, Central and South America, the Middle East and Islamic countries. Are they criminals? Are they terrorists, drug or people smugglers, are they dangerous? We are a nation of laws, and they are breaking the law. This is not just a local problem or a state problem, it is a national problem. We must enforce our laws. National security is border security, and border security is national security.

Whether you are a supporter of a guest-worker program or not, we must agree to work together to secure our borders, enforce our laws and protect U.S. citizens.

Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl has said that “until we have an adequate force of Border Patrol agents to protect our border and have equipped them with the technology and infrastructure that they need to accomplish the mission, I will not buy into the notion that control of the borders is beyond our capability. I believe that the United States, like other nations, has both the obligation and the right to control its border — indeed, it is difficult to imagine a more fundamental, primary role of government.”

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our Border Patrol agents, local and federal law enforcement organizations for their dedication and all their hard work.

GAIL GRIFFIN is chairwoman of the Cochise County Republican Party. The party office is at 432 W. Fry Blvd. For information, call 417-1000, or go online to www.cochisegop.com.