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Pataki calls for tough border enforcement

By ANNE SAUNDERS
Associated Press Writer

June 16, 2006, 4:22 PM EDT

HANOVER, N.H. -- New York Gov. George Pataki said Friday he welcomes legal immigration into the United States, but wants to put a stop to illegal immigration.

"I think one of the single most important things we have to do ... is to make sure no one is crossing our borders unless they're coming here legally," Pataki said at a GOP luncheon, the second of two stops on a half-day visit.

Pataki is not running for re-election in New York and is considered a possible contender for the Republican presidential nomination in two years. He left New Hampshire for Iowa, another state early in the presidential nominating calendar.

"We are a nation of law," he said. "When the first act of people is to come into this nation across our border illegally, it jeopardizes our security and undermines our country."

Pataki had a Mexican immigrant in the 50-member audience. Raul Cervantes, of Lebanon, said most illegal immigrants don't know how to apply to come to the United States legally.

Karen Cervantes, his wife, said they spent about $3,000 to complete the necessary paperwork for Raul to enter legally. She said it's hard to watch the government talk about giving rights to illegal immigrants when her husband had to do it legally.

Pataki praised Cervantes for coming to American "and making our country stronger," praising him for following the law and taking steps to become a citizen.

Asked about border security after the luncheon, Pataki said he shares the concerns of some in New Hampshire that tough new border identification requirements could hurt tourism and the economies of Canada and the United States. For example, he said plans to require passports to enter this country from Canada go too far.

Instead, states should be allowed to develop their own tamper-proof driver's licenses and non-license identifications as long as they meet certain minimum standards. Pataki showed off his post 9-11 New York State license, which includes a holographic image that would be nearly impossible to forge, but he said other states should be free to use other types of technology to make IDs tamper-proof.

"This would allow us to have confidence in our border security system, which we have to do, yet at the same time not unfairly or abnormally impede the flow of tourists or commerce," he said.