(PHOENIX, AZ) May 17, 2006 – Don Goldwater, the leading Republican candidate for Governor, released the following open letter to the President of the United States and the citizens of Arizona regarding his ‘reform of America’s immigration system’.

Mr. President, as a supporter of your candidacy for President in both 2000 and 2004 who worked countless hours for your election, I am very disheartened by the failure of your administration to take decisive steps to adequately protect this country and the Arizona citizens from enemies both foreign and domestic. My concern is heightened when this failure is put in the context of a post-9/11 world.

Mr. President, you are following the script encapsulated in the transparent election year political ploy of the ultra-liberal governor of this state. Her ‘Emergency Declaration’ stated she was sending the National Guard to secure the border. Later we found out that she deployed a few dozen to do vehicle maintenance. Trying to secure our open border using that template is doomed at its inception.

Mr. President, the liberty of many of our citizens has been taken from them and the very lives of many men, women and children are at risk on a daily basis in my state. To send unarmed National Guard troops to the border is merely increasing the potential pool of victims at risk from the international criminal cartels who use armored vehicles to violate our sovereignty.

Mr. President, I need not remind you that this is a War; that Arizona is being invaded by millions of illegal aliens; and that many of the illegal aliens are drug runners, human traffickers and terrorists. I implore you to issue an Executive Order this week to defend America from her enemies. As Commander-in- Chief, do not allow this national security threat to be decided by a majority vote of 535 politicians.

To the citizens of Arizona:

This total failure by the federal government compounded by the inaction of our governor to take the necessary steps to protect our citizens is a prime reason that I decided to become a candidate for Governor of Arizona. In contrast to all the other candidates in this election, I detailed my plan to deal with this illegal invasion months ago – long before the marches and protests. My comprehensive plan on this issue is why Chris Simcox, Russell Pearce and the other leaders of Proposition 200 have strongly endorsed my candidacy. (See www.Goldwaterforgovernor.org for more information)

First, we must secure the border by constructing a fence/wall complex, positioning ground/air radar and ground sensors, placing the National Guard on the border performing normal military functions, not restricted to vehicle maintenance and logistics, and build a “tent city” to house the detained illegal aliens near the border so they will be close to their work detail – building the wall and cleaning up the desert. If a fence/wall doesn’t work why is there one around the White House?

Second, we must eliminate the economic lure caused by bloated government give-away programs. I will issue a directive on my first day in office instructing ALL state government personnel to apply all federal and state laws to insure that illegal aliens are not getting taxpayer dollars.

Third, I will ask the Legislature to place on my desk within fifteen days of opening session, a bill to prevent so called “Sanctuary City” policies. Local police officers must be allowed to identify and detain illegal aliens as a normal function of their daily duties. Day labor centers for illegal aliens will not be allowed to continue operation.

Fourth, I will sign a bill to identify employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens and proscribe proper steps to eliminate the blatant violation of our state labor laws. Our Arizona Department of Homeland Security will be adequately funded to implement the necessary steps to protect our legal work force.

It is important to remember that illegal aliens have made the same choice as a burglar to violate the law. We should not give either a pass (amnesty) simply because they come from an impoverished background. As governor, I will fight this assault on our citizens and together we will return a respect for the law to everyone -- legal and illegal.

Sincerely,