Phoenix, AZ—The United States Senate yesterday passed a "comprehensive immigration reform" bill that is neither comprehensive nor a reform. This legislation -- were it enacted into law – would provide a pathway to citizenship for the twenty to thirty million illegals who have violated our immigration laws and is, in fact, amnesty. Their own proposal states that the “Path to Amnesty” is reserved for people who have a clean record. It is important to realize that all illegals have already violated our Federal Laws – most having violated multiple laws. We tried an amnesty program twenty years ago and promised that we would never again legitimize people who trespass illegally across our borders.

This bill, if signed into law, would send the U.S. population skyrocketing towards a billion people by the close of the century -- with uncontrolled and catastrophic population growth that would negatively impact the quality of life as we know it. Never in the history of our great republic have we restricted the authority of our government to protect our citizens by requiring consultation with the offending country. This outrageous piece of legislation reflects the degree to which the Senate is completely out of touch with the average American.

Nor does the bill take any serious steps that would improve immigration enforcement -- especially in the interior. It merely continues a cycle of rewarding lawbreakers and trying to paint the loss of border control with inaccurate and destructive Orwellian language. The bill's financial bottom line has more red ink than the Red Sea has water. The administrative challenges and conflicts are crushing to government agencies and small business owners. Worst of all, the consequences for the cohesion of the future American nation -- no longer bound by the rule of law and with the tacit approval for a system that does not demand assimilation -- are far- reaching and, to use the words of the sponsors, comprehensive.

With this as a blueprint of what the federal government has proposed, it is with pride and gratitude that I support Arizona House Bill 2577, which passed the Arizona Legislature yesterday. This bill will provide real border security encompassing a fence, National Guard mobilization, border radar, UAV surveillance; real accountability and penalties for employers who knowingly provide the lure for illegals; real penalties including prison time for people who continue to violate our sovereignty; and the repeal of “Sanctuary City” provisions so that local police officers are empowered to fully meet their Oath of Office.

As governor, I will support the tenets encompassed in HB2577 and initiate other stronger measures that will protect Arizonans from this illegal invasion that is encouraged by the highest officials in the Mexican government. I will do all in my power to restore the historic relationship between our state and the people of Mexico of friendship and mutual respect for the laws of each other’s country. I am convinced that the only successful friendship is based on mutual respect for the rights of the other.

Sincerely,