Guest post by Kris Kobach (former RNC Committeeman from Kansas)
Arizona SB 1070 is making the news & opinion shows, talk radio shows and is a major focus online. There is much mis-information about SB 1070 and this op ed piece written for the New York Times by Kris Kobach helps de bunk the myths that the left and their friends in the media are attempting to demonize the Arizona Legislature , the good citizens of our state and the Republican Party.
The Arizona border is not safe. In Nogales, Sonora drug cartel members have killed hundreds of innocent civilians, public officials and policemen in the past year alone. Hundreds of millions in drugs are seized every year in the Tucson Border Patrol District but many times more get through to poison our citizens. Each day several thousand illegals enter Arizona. Border cities from Douglas to Nogales and San Luis have been transformed into criminal havens. Ranchers all along the border have been shaken by the recent murder of Robert Krentz. Tucson is a major center for drug and human smuggling and Phoenix is the #2 kidnapping city in the world due to human smuggling and slavery. We have suffered many hundreds of highway fatalities in the past two years as a result of human and drug smugglers taking their cargoes across the state.
The Arizona Legislature acted because they recognized the number one obligation of government is to protect it’s citizens. The federal government has repeatedly promised border enforcement and financial support here in Arizona but their actions have fallen far short of securing the border or reimbursing the state for the cost of education, healthcare and criminal justice due to illegal immigration.
Governor Jan Brewer has acted courageously signing into law SB 1070. 70% of all Arizonans support SB 1070 as do the majority of Americans from coast to coast. We as Republicans, I hope, will stand front and center to support our efforts here in Arizona. Fighting illegal immigration is an issue that should unite all Americans and not just our party. The president and his party leaders have spread much mis-information that has only aggravated and polarized our country. As members of the RNC I hope you will share the task along with Randy and I to support and encourage other state legislatures to pass similar legislation. The states must stand up for their citizens who only expect that we remain a sovereign nation of laws where everyone has a chance for prosperity and safety.
