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Feb 17, 2011

Arizona leaders speak out against massive GOP cuts to border security

County sheriff, county attorney, border mayor warn of impact on communities

PHOENIX -- Today, law-enforcement and community leaders gathered to speak out against a proposal by House Republican leadership in Washington, D.C., to cut $600 million from border security and immigration enforcement. [Washington Post, 2/12/11] Arizona Democrats made a strong statement today that they will not cede the issue of border security. Today's speakers shared firsthand knowledge of how the Republicans' proposed cuts would hurt local efforts to crack down on illegal immigrant smuggling rings and criminal activity.

Some comments from today's press conference outside the Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse in Phoenix:

Former Assistant Attorney General Andrei Cherny (AZ Dem Chairman): "Securing our border takes more than introducing laws that will never take effect and filing lawsuits that will never go anywhere. This is a real issue and we need tough action backed up by a real commitment... Arizona Democrats want to increase the money for border security and enforcement. That, along with tough, comprehensive federal reform, is what we need to secure our border and strengthen Arizona’s communities. ... So I am here today to ask the House Republican leaders to reverse course and drop their attempt to slash border security funding."

Navajo County Sheriff KC Clark: "As a law enforcement official, I know how much this cut would hurt our effort to crack down on illegal immigration ... We can’t walk away from the fight against the illegal immigrant smuggling rings, and that’s what these cuts would do. This is not a Democratic or Republican issue -- it is an American issue."

San Luis Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla: "The most important fight for border security is right at the border. If it fails to occur there, then all of Arizona’s communities are affected. But with resources from DHS, the southwest border region has made progress against the criminal smuggling rings."

Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon: "Border Patrol apprehensions have decreased 36 percent in the past two years. Last year, 1,000 National Guardsmen were sent to the border, which freed up Border Patrol agents for law enforcement work ... Our law enforcement community and the people of Arizona deserve at least the current level of support – not less -- when it comes to the border."