Thread: Editorial by Gov Rick Perry

http://www.waxahachiedailylight.com/art ... -perry.txt

A better way to secure the border
Posted: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 11:45 AM CST


A famous poet once wrote that “good fences make good neighbors.” However, this author did not have to deal with the realities of homeland security where a wall is only as strong as it is fortified by law enforcement personal. Building a wall along the entire Texas-Mexico border would not only be cost prohibitive — in the range of billions of dollars — it would create a false sense of security. And unless the federal government is willing to put enforcement personnel all along such a barrier — something it has refused to do for decades along a border without fencing — it will be no more successful at keeping illegal immigrants out of Texas than the Rio Grande River.

Strategic fencing in high-population areas makes sense. But I would like to see the federal government invest resources in increased border security operations like Operation Rio Grande rather than build a 1,200-mile wall.

With joint law enforcement operations we have managed to reduce crime in areas patrolled by border sheriffs by up to 60 percent during surge operations. With fixed wing and rotary assets in the air, more law enforcement boots on the ground, and a stronger boat patrol presence along the Rio Grande, we have virtually shut down drug and human smuggling activity during intensive operations. The success of these operations is the reason I will be asking the legislature for $100 million to secure our border.

As I have said repeatedly, you can’t have homeland security without border security, and there is no sense in reforming immigration laws if we cannot enforce them. And I have said equally as often that immigration reform without border security is meaningless.

Divisive language on the subject of border security and immigration reform is simply not constructive or useful in solving the problem. We cannot be a nation that is anti-immigrant because we are in fact a nation of immigrants. In fact, foreign-born citizens are some of the strongest supporters of tougher border security measures. Clearly, something has to be done because our hospitals, schools, and other service providers are being flooded with illegal immigrants at a great cost to taxpayers.

But to me neither amnesty nor mass deportation is the answer. The first unfairly rewards those who broke our laws, and the latter is not only unrealistic and unenforceable, but it would devastate our economy. That’s why I support a guest worker program that takes undocumented workers off the black market and legitimizes their economic contributions without providing them citizenship status.


I would rather know who is crossing our border legally to work instead of not knowing who is crossing our border illegally to work. A guest worker program that provides foreign workers with an ID removes the incentive for millions of people to illegally enter our country. It also adds those workers to our tax base, generates revenue for needed social services and it can be done without providing citizenship.

Along with millions of Americans, I think it is wrong to reward those who broke our laws with citizenship ahead of those who have followed the law and are waiting to enter this country legally. And like millions of Americans I do not support amnesty.

With a more secure border and a reasonable guest worker program we can allow guest workers to help build our economy without offering citizenship. Many don’t even want to become citizens - they just want to provide for their families back home.


We just finished an election where the Washington politicians gave us a lot of rhetoric on immigration reform, but no real solutions. We need Washington to be a part of the solution. For us it is not just a subject of intense debate, it directly impacts how we live.

As governor, I understand that I represent all the people of Texas, and not everyone sees eye to eye on this issue. But, I do promise that I will use reason and fact, not emotion and fear, to help us resolve this issue in a spirit of unity. We need to work toward solutions, not slogans. We need immigration reform that doesn’t compromise our security, and security that doesn’t compromise our economy. And I believe we can accomplish all of this with a guest worker program and real security measures that utilize our law enforcement tools to help secure our border.

Rick Perry is the governor of Texas.

Along with millions of Americans, I think it is wrong to reward those who broke our laws with citizenship ahead of those who have followed the law and are waiting to enter this country legally. And like millions of Americans I do not support amnesty.


THATS FUNNY two weeks ago he was all talk saying how he supports guest worker and paths to citizenship.

I wish this jacka$$ would make up his mind

Rick Perry is just playing us.

Dixie

dixie,

its funny that he claims to have gotten more help on the border and he had that commericial on tv in the campaign saying the same thing, but i seem to remember channel 5 in the valley doing a report saying just the opposite and sheriff's deputies claiming they are outmanned and out gunned

they all support the guest worker.

jamesw,

That sounds like his campaign retoric but now he has added the guestworker BS. He sure wasn't letting that cross his lips when he was running. He's really saying a path to citizenship because America has a guest worker program that is creating illegal aliens, when they overstay their visas.

Moving,

Perry was Bush's Lt. Governor. We know he thinks like Bush. He got elected with less than 40% of the vote. That's something to brag about. He is coming into office very unpopular and the majority didn't elect him.

He's not representing the majority, he just survived the election.

Dixie

Dixie

And unless the federal government is willing to put enforcement personnel all along such a barrier

Rick, ask all border sheriffs to send personnel to the 287(g) program. Heck, Rick the whole darn state needs to be sent.

Almost everyone of those paragraphs contradicted itself. Talking out of both sides of his mouth. Those are the words of a career politician for ya.

Can't build a fence, got to have a guest worker program, can't deport the criminals...

Divisive language on the subject of border security and immigration reform is simply not constructive or useful in solving the problem. We cannot be a nation that is anti-immigrant because we are in fact a nation of immigrants.

I think this is the worst thing he said! Divisive!!!!!!! This is not a nation of immigrants! It's a nation of Americans.

Dixie

39 percent of the vote actually that means that
61 percent did not want his booty in office and it didnt
help texas that there was 4 main people running for the office

and texas does not have a runoff for goernor if no one gets the majority of the vote.... i hate that

Like many politicians he talks out of both sides of his mouth, so in reality you can't believe a word he says.

With a more secure border and a reasonable guest worker program we can allow guest workers to help build our economy without offering citizenship. Many don’t even want to become citizens - they just want to provide for their families back home.

Well I think he did a pretty good job spinning his argument and white washing his actions but he forgot one thing....... what about the CITIZEN laborers who "want to provide for their families" in THIS HOME?

ps the fact he is writing an editorial indicates he is aware of all the sentiment expressed in the above posts. This is a good thing (I hope).