Thread: Governor Brewer responds to Senator Schumer's letter

Governor Brewer responds to Senator Schumer's letter
June 3, 2010

Read Senator Schumer's letter
http://janbrewer.com/uploads/CharlesSchumerLetter.pdf

The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
Chairman
Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Refugees
United States Senate
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Re: Correspondence on Border Security

Dear Senator Schumer:

I appreciate your interest in helping us secure our border and recognizing my duty as Governor to address the public security concerns of Arizonans.

Arizona's border regions, extending into metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson, have become increasingly lawless because the federal government has not effectively controlled our international border and enforced its immigration laws. The federal government's policy of securing the border in the El Paso and San Diego areas has turned Arizona into the superhighway of illegal drug and human smuggling activity. The City of Phoenix has earned the dubious distinction of being the kidnapping capital of the United States, ranking only second behind Mexico City in the world. Busts of drop houses, where illegal immigrants are often held for ransom and otherwise severely abused, are not uncommon occurrences in some Arizona neighborhoods.

Given these circumstances, I am sure you can understand that waiting a year or more based on another federal promise of getting serious this time is not an option for Arizona. As has been said here, calling for comprehensive immigration reform before securing the border is like asking for comprehensive energy policy reform before stopping the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico.

Here is my diagnosis of the problem and the way forward. Congress and successive Administrations (both Republican and Democrat) have lost all credibility with the American people, and Arizonans in particular, regarding border security and interior enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Unfortunately, I understand that the consensus in Washington D.C. is that nothing will be done legislatively on immigration this year and any promises of action for the rest of the year are part of some national political strategy. Neither side of the immigration debate will be fooled by that strategy. This non-action will only build the sense of alienation that Americans feel toward a federal government that won’t solve problems that affect their everyday lives. It will be more of the same “promise something, do nothing, blame someoneâ€

I really like Gov. Brewer.

She has a pair for sure.

Her idea of using AZ Prisoners to build the Border Fence is a great Idea. In Fact,I think IA's serving time should be chosen first to build the fence.

Originally Posted by USPatriot

I really like Gov. Brewer.

She has a pair for sure.

Her idea of using AZ Prisoners to build the Border Fence is a great Idea. In Fact,I think IA's serving time should be chosen first to build the fence.

Chain gang on the border fence. sounds good to me

Originally Posted by USPatriot

I really like Gov. Brewer.

She has a pair for sure.

Her idea of using AZ Prisoners to build the Border Fence is a great Idea. In Fact,I think IA's serving time should be chosen first to build the fence.

She is a patriot for sure, the fore fathers would be proud, I hope she does not falter on her stand.

Overall, it's not a bad letter and I like the part about enforcing current laws, but I wish she was in the secure the border period camp, not the "secure the border first" (then CIR amnesty) camp. But I'm pleased Gov. Brewer is apparently not buying into the Obama/Schumer amnesty scheme now.

Originally Posted by Populist

Overall, it's not a bad letter and I like the part about enforcing current laws, but I wish she was in the secure the border period camp, not the "secure the border first" (then CIR amnesty) camp. But I'm pleased Gov. Brewer is apparently not buying into the Obama/Schumer amnesty scheme now.

Me too!

Originally Posted by USPatriot

I really like Gov. Brewer.

She has a pair for sure.

Her idea of using AZ Prisoners to build the Border Fence is a great Idea. In Fact,I think IA's serving time should be chosen first to build the fence.

And when they are done with the fence, they can start on the roads. Pay for your crime, instead of sucking more off the citizens.

The operative phrase in Schumer's letter is...

"I therefore ask you to call on Arizona's legislature to delay the date of enactment of SB1070 for I year in order to permit Congress sufficient time to enact comprehensive immigration reform to address AZ's security needs..."

Which one of us is dumb enough not to recognize this code... he might as well have said...
"Please don't do anything so we will have time to do nothing ourselves".

Does he realize how ridiculous it sounds to suggest that AZ wait "a year" to address AZ's security needs?

Wonder how effective he would have been as a 911 operator.