Our Nation Depends On It
by State Senator Russell Pearce

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!   As author of Proposition 200; “Arizona Taxpayers and Citizens Protection Act,” that passed by over 1 million voters in 2004. It was intended to do three things.

(Thanks to Attorney General Goddard and Former Governor Napolitano the 3rd provision was not implemented.  It was a back door veto of the people’s vote.)

Proof of citizenship to register to vote: The U.S. Constitution established more than 200 years ago that only citizens may vote. The initiative requires everyone equally to prove that eligibility as does Title 7, Section 12 of the Arizona Constitution.  Thanks to Proposition 200, ACORN’s efforts of voter fraud were thwarted here in Arizona.

Photo I.D. When voting: Photo I.D. Is required to cash a check, apply for welfare, sign a lease, or get a rental card at a video store.

Proof of eligibility to receive non-federal mandated public benefits: The initiative would require everyone to provide proof of eligibility equally. The Urban Institute studied this extensively in 1994, the University of Arizona in 2001, and estimated such costs to vary widely in the tens of millions of dollars.

To make matters worse, we have a financial crisis in Arizona and are cutting services to citizens and yet the cities are demanding that illegal aliens receive taxpayer benefits.

There is currently a battle raging in this country that will determine whether our nation enforces its immigration laws and secures its borders or becomes victim of its enemies.  We are a Nation built upon the “Rule of Law” and either we stand up for the principles that our Founding Fathers gave us to ensure lasting Liberty, enshrined in a Constitution that protects those liberties or we destroy all that is sacred and the end result will be a nation who commits suicide.  Illegal immigration is the Trojan Horse and we must secure our borders and enforces our laws.

“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”.  This prophetic speech in that Henry was warning his countrymen that if they were not prepared to fight for their liberty, the only alternative was to live in “chains and slavery.”

THE TIME HAS COME TO FIGHT.  FIGHT TO KEEP GOD IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. FIGHT TO KEEP GOD IN OUR NATIONAL MOTTO.  FIGHT TO KEEP THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ON PUBLIC DISPLAY. FIGHT TO RETURN PRAYER TO THE CLASSROOMS. FIGHT AGAINST ABORTION, FIGHT AGAINST PORNOGRAPHY, FIGHT TO SECURE OUR BORDERS, FIGHT TO PRESERVE THE RULE OF LAW, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, AND (IN THE WORDS OF WINSTON CHURCHILL) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!

AHCCCS has exploded to $5 billion annually, more people enrolled in AHCCCS than in K through 12!!!  Hospitals in trouble financially (in 2003, 77 border hospitals filed bankruptcy), crime impact (majority of violent crime involves illegal aliens), neighborhoods in trouble, drug trafficking, home invasions, our election process violated, and I can go on.

We must have responsible policies to protect our citizens.  That is our job.  The average taxpayer bears the burden of our bloated welfare system.  It jeopardizes the integrity of our elections.  Our number one responsibility is to protect the rights and liberties of the Citizens of this great Republic.

As long as we have a welfare state, in consideration of the fact of Federal abdication of their responsibility to protect our borders, we (Arizona) must necessarily resort to ’self-help’, and let the shirkers and the cowards be darned.

We are a nation of immigrants, but immigrants originally settled every nation in the world; this cliché confuses facts with wisdom.  When the Statue of Liberty was erected in 1886, there were less than 65 million Americans.  We did not have the Bloated Welfare system we have today.  We did not have those coming to America demanding “free” stuff as we do today.  We did not have “Public” education at a huge cost to taxpayers that we have today.

It is said that immigration is important because there are “jobs that Americans won’t do.”  This probably never was true, but this cliché has now become a job-destroying and wage-lowering philosophy where employers use both unskilled and “increasingly) skilled immigrants to hold down wages and obtain cheap labor at the expense of American workers and the “left” benefits from the increased political base by luring them here and allowing/encouraging them to get addicted to government programs.

Why should “Illegal Aliens” have the right to “Free” taxpayer/citizen benefits?

Impact of Illegal Immigration:

U.S.
Illegal immigrants cost American taxpayers $68 Billion annually in federal programs in 2002. Studies estimate that amnesty would increase that three fold.

$311 Billion in uncollected taxes (Barron’s study)

$200 Billion annually in lost American wages. Native-born American men lost an average of $1700 in wages in 2000 due to US immigration policy (Harvard University)

Arizona
FAIR study (Federation for American Immigration Reform):
This is the 6th largest population of illegals in the country and 222% higher than the 1990 figure and according to Time Magazine (not a conservative publication) over 3 million will cross illegally through the Arizona border this next year alone!!!

Arizona hospitals spend $150 annually on illegals’ care. Some rural hospitals have had to downscale or close (2003 77 border hospitals filed for bankruptcy)

Health department in Cochise spends 1/3 of its budget on care for illegals

Maricopa County Hospital loses over $2 million weekly on uncompensated care (largely due to illegal aliens).

Feds owe $25 million in uncompensated SCAAP costs just in Maricopa County, (1/3 of our federal prisons are illegal aliens)

Arizona spends $1 billion annually to educate illegal immigrant students

Over half of all AHCCCS births are from illegal mothers 1/3 of children in Arizona have immigrant parents

Other problems include: congested freeways, damage to environment from trash and unwanted trails, crowded housing, crime and poverty.

By some estimates 60% to 80% of the violent crime in Arizona is involving illegal aliens; i.e. Homicides, drug trafficking, home invasions, car jackings, gang activity, etc.

The Zogby, Roper, Lou Dobbs and Pew polls show over 80% of Americans do not want amnesty given to illegals.  They want enforcement.

IN VIOLATION OF THEIR OATH OF OFFICE

This year, over three million illegal aliens crossed over our borders against the laws set forth in our Constitution and Federal immigration mandates. These laws are specific. They demand arrest and deportation for anyone within the United States of America without lawful entry. For anyone hiring an illegal alien, these laws provide fines of $10,000.00 per illegal hired and up to five years in prison.

Additionally, our elected officials from mayors to our President work against American citizens in what history will report as the single greatest “invasion-without-guns” takeover of a nation in history. “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government, and shall protect each of them against invasion.” Article IV Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution.

The Law:

“A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he: assists an illegal alien she/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or encourages that illegal alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.” Federal Law- Section 8 USC 1324. If you suffered a horde of people overrunning your home or community, you would call the cops and have them arrested. Not so with illegal aliens! By lack of law enforcement, illegals recognize the open invitation to illegal entry. The benefits of lawbreaking exceed their wildest dreams.

Undocumented Immigrant is a euphemism that suggests the problem with immigrants is the lack of documentation. ACTUALLY, they are citizenship-deficient; in the same way that a residential burglar is key deficit.

Scottsdale Art Factory accused of hiring illegal workers after January 2009 raid

County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced his office has filed the state’s first employer sanctions case, a civil complaint against an employer accused of violating the Legal Arizona Worker’s Act. The civil action alleges the Scottsdale Art Factory’s manager, Michelle Hardas, allegedly hired illegal labor deliberately by using a “subcontractor” which was in reality an employee who was not authorized to work in the United States.

In January 2009, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office made a number of identity theft arrests after learning illegal immigrants were employed at the business. The civil complaint alleges that an illegal worker who voluntarily returned to Mexico, Hilario Santiago-Hernandez, returned to Arizona and created a company to provide services and labor solely for the Scottsdale Art Factory. The complaint alleges that “Santiago Furniture”, which was formed in April 2009, was established to circumvent the Legal Arizona Worker’s Act. The complaint also accuses Hardas of attempting to get Santiago-Hernandez to hire an unauthorized employee under Santiago-Hernandez’s shell company to do work at the Scottsdale Art Factory. Hardas allegedly suggested Santiago-Hernandez charge the unauthorized alien a five percent kickback.

The complaint alleges:
“Hardas has used the provision of limited liability companies, designed to protect legitimate businesses, as a way of gaining an unfair economic advantage over legitimate businesses by continuing to hire employees who are not authorized to be employed in the United States.”

The complaint was filed on November 18 following an investigation by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation included the use of undercover video in which Hardas told an undercover informant she was “trying to get around the system … and change the rules so that I can make you be hired.”

In the video, Hardas characterizes the subcontractor arrangement this way, “it’s like having a real business even though … we’re just using it to put the money through….”

The video also quotes Hardas as telling Santiago-Sanchez what to say when contacted by law enforcement, “I don’t work here. … Sometimes I come in the shop and I help a little bit, but mostly I just bring in furniture – drop off furniture – drop off doors that I made. I was just here making a door. Got to go. You don’t need to see my papers. I got to go.”
The civil complaint asks the court to order the business to fire illegal workers and comply with state law. The complaint also seeks a minimum ten day suspension of the defendant’s business license. Deputy County Attorney Peter Spaw is prosecuting the case.

Since 2008, when the Legal Arizona Workers Act became law, there have been 26 investigations with a total of 327 arrests. Of those, 212 were for identity theft or forgery. An additional 98 suspects were found to be in the United States illegally. Several others had outstanding warrants. Today’s complaint marks the first civil action taken against an employer and we expect more to follow. Unfortunately, just as prosecutors are starting to make progress there are efforts at the State Legislature and the Board of Supervisors to sweep the funds that were set aside by statute to enforce the Legal Arizona Workers Act in addition to prosecuting other crimes resulting from illegal immigration. In addition to prosecuting defendants in employer-sanctions related cases, the County Attorney’s Office has used these funds to prosecute 866 human smuggling defendants, 381 kidnapping defendants, and 436 illegal immigrants accused of Misconduct Involving Weapons.

County Attorney Thomas stated, “This first employer-sanctions case is the capstone on our office’s efforts to stop illegal immigration. The idea that state and local law enforcement can successfully and legally combat illegal immigration has moved from a provocative theory a few years ago to reality today.” Thomas especially thanked Senator Russell Pearce for backing the employer-sanctions legislation and Sheriff Joe Arpaio for continuing with employer raids despite protests.Sheriff Arpaio stated, “It’s sad with the high unemployment rate in this country that employers hire illegal aliens, taking jobs away from US citizens.”

(Left to Right) Rep. Vic Williams, Sen. Russell Pearce, Rep. Sam Crump, LD11 Senate Candidate Rich Davis, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Rep. Jerry Weiers, JD Hayworth, Sen. Thayer Verschoor, County Attorney Andrew Thomas, Sen. John Huppenthal

Yesterday’s press conference at the State Capitol drew 200+ people in support of State Senator Russell Pearce’s efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement.  Several organizations were represented, including the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, and many of the more than 40 legislators supporting the effort were also in attendance.  Also participating in the press conference were former Congressman and KFYI host JD Hayworth, County Attorney Andrew Thomas, and Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Pearce unveiled legislation at the press conference that would crack down on illegal immigration in various ways.  The three components of the bill are:

1.  Outlawing sanctuary city policies by prohibiting cities and towns in Arizona from limiting or restricting the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

2.  Making it a Class 1 misdemeanor for an illegal alien to enter into or be on any public or private land in Arizona if they are in violation of federal immigration law. The charge is elevated to a Class 4 felony if someone is convicted, deported and then returns to Arizona. The charge would rise to a Class 2 felony if this person violates this section of the law while committing other crimes involving illegal drugs, weapons or terrorism.

3.  Beefing up the state’s employer sanctions law by giving civil subpoena power to prosecuting agencies, enabling them to question witnesses and obtained needed documentation. It is the same type of authority used by the Arizona Insurance Department and the Department of Liquor License and Control, and it will give prosecutors the ability to more efficiently and more quickly investigate claims.

Pearce is hoping for a referral from the Legislature that would put these items on the ballot.  Failing that, he will be pursuing them as voter-initiatives.

Only one congressman from Arizona voted to continue sending your tax dollars to ACORN. Remember ACORN? That’s President Obama’s favorite liberal organization - the group where he received all his “community organizer” experience. They’re the same organization whose employees were systematically caught suggesting, if not encouraging, tax evasion, fraud, child prostitution, slave trade, human trafficking and a whole lot of other illegal activities.

In case you missed it, the US House voted to cut off funding of the organization by a vote of 375-75.

This is great news for American taxpayers and those who respect the law!

Unfortunately, the good citizens of Congressional District 7 have a congressman who voted against the defunding of ACORN. That’s right, the absurdly and outrageously liberal Raul Grijalva voted to continue sending YOUR tax dollars to this corrupt organization!

The good news is that Raul Grijalva’s days in Congress are numbered! In less than 411 days, the voters will have the opportunity to elect a true taxpayer advocate and patriot. Her name is Ruth McClung and she will be taking back the district from all the liberal special interest groups who installed Grijalva to the CD-7 seat.

Ruth needs your help though. Please take a moment to visit her website (www.Ruth4AZ.com) and sign up as a volunteer and most importantly, make a contribution to her campaign.

With your help, Ruth will boot the liberal ACORN-loving Raul Grijalva out of office in 2010 and return the district to the hard-working citizens who deserve much better.

YOU WANT AN EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION AND THE RESULT OF ENFORCEMENT? Here is another jurisdiction that took a zero tolerance to those in this country illegally. Prince William County announced that violent crimes decreased by a whopping 22% in 2007, demonstrating once again the value of protecting the quality of life by having local law enforcement participate in efforts to reduce the number of illegal aliens unlawfully present in our communities. The previous year, more than half of all murders in the county were committed by illegal aliens. By encouraging illegal aliens to depart, and ensuring that those who do not and are arrested for state and local crimes are turned over to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation, we’ve addressed to some degree an important public safety issue that few states and localities have the courage to even consider, much to the detriment of their own residents.

I cannot believe what I am reading on those defending “illegal” aliens and ignoring the facts. Why are some ignoring the deaths, maimings, rapes and billions in cost? Is it Profits over Patriotism? Political power that comes to the left? Are the deaths, maimings, rapes, molestations of our children and billions in cost just collateral damage for the open border or cheap labor advocates?

Just recently “Chief” Harris of Phoenix PD held a Press Conference about the reduction in crime and stated he did not know why it was down. It does not take a high IQ to know why. With employer sanctions, Sheriff enforcing the law, along with the economy 30% have left Arizona.

I wonder why Phoenix is 2nd in the world in kidnappings only behind Mexico City. I can tell you that if you’re the victim of an illegal alien, statistics don’t mean much. If it is you or your the family member, like the family of Officer Erfle who was murdered when an illegal alien was released instead of being deported, or the family of Officer Figueroa who was killed by an illegal alien or Bob Miller who lost his son, and the list goes on.

You want to hear from some real victims of Sanctuary Cities, the hurt, the pain, please go to this web site and watch. http://www.investigativecommunications.com/

Citizens have a constitutional right to expect the protection of federal and state laws which prohibit unauthorized activities by non-citizens and are denied equal protection law enforcement, police departments or a magistrate fails to enforce those laws.

You ought to be concerned about the cost to Arizona taxpayers in the cost to medicate, incarcerate and educate illegals ($1 billion annually in K-12 alone). You ought to be concerned about the deaths, maimings, rapes, kidnappings, home invasions, not to mention jobs taken from Americans and wages suppressed.

The issue has been debated many times. What part of the Rule of Law, Citizens Constitutional rights, the Oath of Office, or the Constitution do you not agree with?

We held a hearing in Judiciary Committee on Warrants, who’s job is it? What we should have held hearings on is Sanctuary Cities; the greatest threat to safe neighborhoods and billions in cost to the taxpayer. Not to mention in violation of federal law!! Mayors and Police Chiefs that encourage or have policies that restrict the enforcement of immigration laws are complicit in the deaths, maimings of citizens and police officers and the billions in cost to the taxpayers. I did hold hearings in Appropriations and had victims, law enforcement officers, Sheriff Joe, Sheriff Babeu, Maricopa County Attorney, by video Congressman King, and Victims of 9-11 families, and others in an ALL DAY hearing. The other side was invited and refused to come and give public testimony on their support of sanctuary policies and their trip to testify before congress as part of the Al Sharpton fan club. I will be glad to provide the video to anyone who cares enough to ask, as they did not bother to attend and hear from law enforcement and victims directly about the impact of this illegal alien invasion. (over 8 hours of testimony)

How many more have do die, or how many more in billions of dollars cost to the taxpayer before we stop all sanctuary policies??????????? I PLEDGE TO CONTINUE UNTIL THESE “ILLEGAL” POLICES ARE ABOLISHED; IF WE WILL ELIMINATE ALL SANCTUARY POLICIES IN THIS STATE, THE RESULT WILL BE LESS CRIME, LOWER TAXES.

Endorsements: 75% to 80% of Arizonans, Arizona State Republican Party, Maricopa County Republican Party, Sheriff Joe, Sheriff Babeu, County Attorney Andrew Thomas, Arizona African American Club, Albert Rodriguez of a national Hispanic group “You Don’t Speak For Me”, Anna Gains a Hispanic and her group of “American Citizen’s United”, NAILEM a neighborhood group of several thousand, Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (2600 officers), Border Patrol 2544 (over 3500 Arizona border patrol officers, several other law enforcement groups that support but have not taken official action. Enforce our laws and put America and Americans First.

Unsanctioned entry into the United States is a crime.

8 USC Sec. 1644: (”No local ordinance, rule, or measure shall stop law enforcement officers from enforcement of this section”) Referring to immigration violations.

I sat ashen as I watched the news reports. Several chiefs of police, including Phoenix’s Jack Harris and Mesa’s Gascon, stood at a Press Conference and publicly refused to enforce the law. Less than a month after the brutal murder of a police officer at the hands of an illegal alien, they snub the opportunity to make necessary changes, all for the sake of political correctness, while citizens are killed, maimed, raped, the cost to educate, medicate and incarcerate are in the billions for Arizona, plus, jobs taken from Americans.

9-11 Terrorist Attack: Had our immigration laws been enforced 9-11 probably would have been averted. 4 of the 5 organizers and pilots had been contacted by law enforcement prior to the attack (one still had the ticket in the glove box of his car at the airport), and had they been arrested on immigration violations, 9-11 probably would have been prevented!!

When is enough, enough??? DEATH & MAIMINGS OF POLICE OFFICERS & CITIZENS BY ILLEGAL ALIENS: http://www.investigativecommunications.com/

Enforcement by our law enforcement officers, removing the policies that restrict their ability to ask and act (a sanctuary policy is simply placing restrictions of enforcing our laws). Removing those restrictions would have the greatest affect on public safety of all the legislation we have passed to date.

Arizona: Dept of Justice and FBI reports:

Phoenix, #2 in the world in kidnappings, home invasions

Phoenix, 3rd most violent city in America

Phoenix #1 in crime overall

Arizona the home invasion, car jacking, identity theft capitol of the world

#2 in auto theft

1/3 of federal prisoners are illegal aliens for serious crimes

Over $1 billion annual cost for illegals in K-12

Drugs

1 million gang members in the U.S. mostly made up of illegal aliens

1 million sex crime victims by illegal aliens

If you want loser taxes, less crime, smaller classrooms, short emergency room lines and safer neighborhoods ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS.

“If it be asked, what is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be an inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws” - Alexander Hamilton.

A Congressional Report: CONFIRMING THE THREAT AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER; on crime, violence, drugs, gangs, terrorist, sex predators coming into America among the 4 million to 10 million entering illegally ANNUALLY!!!! Over 9,000 people killed in the U.S. each year at the hands of illegal aliens; 25 each day, 12 by stabbings and shootings & 13 by DUI or other vehicular crimes.

Death and maimings of police officers and citizens by illegal aliens (short list)

* Phoenix Officer Shane Figueroa
* Tracy from Highland High in Gilbert
* Child serial rapist in Chandler
* Phoenix Officer Glidewell (shot in chest)
* 15 year old raped by school janitor in Scottsdale
* 15 year old kidnapped and raped in Guadalupe
* Phoenix Officer Nick Erfle

• Phoenix Officer Marc Atkinson;

• Phoenix Officer Robert Sitek;

• Kris Eggle-park ranger in southern Arizona;

• Border Patrol Agent James Epling;

• Maricopa County Deputy Sean Pearce critically wounded while serving homicide warrant

• Maricopa County Deputy Lew Argetsinger shot while executing a search warrant for homicide;

• Sgt. Manuel H. Tapia was shot by a drug suspect;

• DPS Officer Robert K. Martin, murdered by illegal alien 19-year-old ex-convict;

• Agent Richard Fass, 37, of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, murdered;

• Agent Alexander Kirpnick, 27, Border Patrol, murdered;

• Jason Schechterle suffered fourth-degree burns when his patrol care went up in flames after being struck by a taxi – the driver was an illegal alien.

• Gilbert mother killed by illegal alien fleeing from Mesa PD (had prior arrest and not deported).

• Jason, Decorated Iraq war veteran stabbed in his own front yard by illegal alien.

• Mother “legal immigrant” killed by illegal alien trying to ram Sheriff’s Deputy’s car in Phoenix.

• Illegal, 17, runs down hero cop – juvenile released by Border Patrol 10 days earlier

• Murder suspect – an illegal with driver’s license – now faces 41 counts

• Illegal alien accused of triple homicide

• 3 illegals beat pregnant woman – mayhem rampage

• 5 illegals face deportation after killing principal

• Unlawful immigrants piloted pickup truck that smashed into Florida woman’s car

• Decapitated heads of two police officials found in Acapulco, Mexico

• Feds arrest 2,100 Operation Return to Sender sends agents across country to target violent criminal aliens

• Cop murder spotlights crisis of killer aliens – No government agency tracks crimes by illegals, not even attacks on police

• Shotgun preteen vs. illegal alien home invaders – Home invasion gone wrong for criminals

• Illegals kill deputy in New Year’s Eve hit and run

• State Trooper Shot to Death in Tennessee by Hispanic Drug Dealers

• Day laborer from Guatemala charged with killing girlfriend’s baby

• Utah gunman, 18, was Muslim from Bosnia – Killed 5 in crowded shopping mall

• Illegal detained in death of “Christmas Story” director Bob Clark, son die in collision

• DUI illegal kills pedestrian week after given probation – Hit-and-run

• Woman involved in accident dies from injuries by illegal immigrant

• Sniper, John Lee Malvo, required by law to be immediately deported. Instead they released John Lee Malvo upon the unsuspecting American Public. He and his cohort killed 10 people.

• Tanee Natividad, a high school student, was murdered by an illegal

• Darlene Squires’s disabled teenage daughter and another disabled girl were raped by three members of a Salvadoran street gang. Both victims are deaf.

• David March, a Los Angeles County Sheriff, was killed during a routine traffic stop. The driver was a dangerous Mexican drug dealer, Armando Garcia, who had been deported twice and has a long history of violent crime.

• Eighteen-year-old Tricia Taylor lost both her legs above the knees by drunken driver Jose Carcamo who had 17 violations since 1995.

• Walter Contreras Valenzuela, a 10-year-old boy was murdered by an illegal alien from Honduras.

• An illegal alien killed Kimberley Hope while trying to steal her car.

• Five year old Ana Cerna was killed by an illegal alien.

• Joseph Crummy was murdered by illegal alien Jesus Hernandez in Utah.

• Amber Merkle was only 8, killed in a wreck caused by illegal alien Arturo Lupian.

• Vinessa Hoera, 23, was brutally raped and murdered by an illegal alien from Guatemala, Faustino Chavez who apparently was angry when his advances toward her were not received positively. 9,000 MORE EACH YEAR.

Study: 1 million sex crimes by illegals; More than 100 sex offenders crossing border daily Deborah Schurman-Kauflin: Based on a one-year in-depth study, a researcher estimates there are about 240,000 illegal immigrant sex offenders in the United States who have had an average of four victims each.

5,000 to 10,000 cross illegally into the U.S. every single day, and 1 out of 10 already have felony convictions.

WHY DO WE STRUGGLE WITH WHAT IS RIGHT? Another Police Officer killed by an illegal alien. Officer Shane Figueroa. I have introduced 5 years in a row legislation to allow Police Officers to enforce our laws and remove the political handcuffs placed on them by our local politicians and chiefs. Our citizens deserve no less, our law enforcement have the authority, and must allow them to do their job.

My personal background in law enforcement has given me a unique and in-touch perspective with the needs and hazards experienced by rank-and-file police officers. PLEA understands the danger of ignoring illegal immigration. The burden of blind-eye police department policies and open-border philosophies were paid for with the lives of not only law enforcement officers, but many other good citizens as the danger clearly spread beyond law enforcement into our communities with more lives being lost. The quality of life in our state is being sacrificed for political correctness. Phoenix Law Enforcement Officers, PLEA, Border Patrol and I stand side by side for the rule of law.

MARK SPENCER President of P.L.E.A., “Mark my words another police officer will be killed as a result of Mayor Gordon’s pretended revision of their policy on when you can ask and when you cannot ask on one’s immigration status. ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER, HUSBAND, FATHER, AMERICAN KILLED BY AN ILLEGAL ALIEN. GOVERNMENT IS COMPLICIT IN THE DEATHS, MAIMINGS AND BILLIONS IN COST TO OUR CITIZENS.

Simply enforce our laws and you will see less crime, lower taxes, smaller class sizes, shorter lines in our emergency rooms and reduced deaths, murders, maimings, drugs, home invasions, car jackings, kidnappings, jobs taken from Americans, reduced wages, an ultimately save the taxpayer billions of dollars. We cannot afford to “NOT” enforce our laws.

Attrition by Enforcement.

THIS IS THE “ONLY” LAW WE PUT CONDITIONS ON BEFORE A POLICE OFFICER CAN ENFORCE, THE ONLY CRIMINALS WE PROTECT BY POLICIES!!!!!!! NO OTHER CRIME OR CRIMINAL GETS THIS PROTECTION BY RESTRICTIVE POLICIES BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

I PLEDGE; TO WORK TO ELIMINATE ALL SANCTUARY POLICIES IN THIS STATE, THE RESULT WILL BE LESS CRIME, LOWER TAXES & SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS.

Our local & national leader’s refusal to enforce U.S. Immigration laws & failure to carry out their constitutional duty to defend this nation from that invasion is guilty of impeachable offenses.

We are sowing the seeds of our own destruction in America today.

I believe in our Constitution, the rule of law, in liberty & freedom. I will not retreat from the defense of our Republic or the protection of our citizens from our enemies foreign or domestic!!!

“The Maricopa Model” Shows Tough Policies Work
More Prison, Fewer Illegals, Less Crime

County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced today that despite a rising population and other factors that generally drive up the crime rate, Maricopa County has experienced a dramatic decrease in both crime and illegal immigration. These clear trends are occurring county-wide, and reveal the impact of both effective collaboration among law enforcement agencies and tough and visionary prosecution policies in the County Attorney’s Office.

The crime rate per 100,000 people in Maricopa County decreased 8% from 2007 to 2008 and 18% from 2004 to 2008. During this same period, the violent crime rate in Maricopa County dropped 8% and the property crime rate fell 21%. This decline occurred even though the county’s population actually grew by just under 11 percent during the same period.
Between 2004 and 2008 the crime rate fell by:
•
32.6% in Gilbert
•
25.6% in Mesa
•
25.3% in Tempe
•
20.1% in Chandler
•
18.0% in Scottsdale
•
15.7% in Phoenix
•
15.2% in Peoria
•
06.3% in Glendale

This dramatic success story runs contrary to conventional wisdom among criminologists. Thomas attributed these trends to three major factors. First, police agencies are using current technology and tactics to effectively address specific crime problems in their areas. There has also been enhanced coordination with the County Attorney’s Office. One example is the identity theft protocol signed by Valley police agencies in 2005, an agreement to investigate identity theft cases that Thomas’s office brokered.

Second, because of tougher policies in the County Attorney’s Office, prosecutors are sending significantly more serious and repeat felons to prison. From 2004 to 2008, the number of criminals in Maricopa County sent to the Department of Corrections increased 29.3%.

Third, the joint crackdowns on illegal immigration with the Sheriff’s Office have led to an unprecedented collapse in the illegal immigration population. The Center for Immigration Studies recently released a report showing that since 2007, Arizona has seen a 30% drop in its illegal immigrant population. This finding is consistent with substantial anecdotal evidence of declining illegal-immigrant populations during that same time, many of which were reported by the local media (such as declining school enrollment numbers, the shuttering of businesses that largely catered to illegal immigrants, etc.). Nationally the amount of decrease in the illegal-immigrant population was 14% according to the CIS report.

County Attorney Andrew Thomas says the numbers speak for themselves: “Tough policies against crime and illegal immigration do work. The lesson is obvious: more time, less crime.”

Graph: More Time, Less Crime: Valley Crime Rates Decline as More Criminals Are Sent to Prison
The Phoenix Business Journal analyzed recent data on illegal immigration in the Valley and, on July 30, reported: “A marked drop in Phoenix-area crime coincides with the recession and a drop in the number of illegal immigrants in Arizona.”

On April 13, 2009, The Wall Street Journal reported that illegal immigration and Mexican drug cartels are a driving force behind auto theft nationally, and that border cities are the hardest hit. Yet the auto-theft rate in the Valley fell by 38% between 2006 and 2008, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Since taking office, Thomas has implemented a series of policies to make certain that dangerous offenders serve serious prison time. These include:

Plead to the Lead – Implemented in 2005, this policy requires that adults charged with serious violent offenses such as first-degree murder, drive-by shooting, or sexual assault plead to the most serious crime they are charged with as part of any plea agreement or go to trial.

Dangerous Crimes Against Children Policy – Implemented in 2006, this policy requires adults who commit certain crimes against children receive substantial prison time. For cases in which the defendant faces the mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years, the plea offer must require at least 35 years in prison.

Repetitive and R.O.P. Offenders – This policy was intensified in 2007 to ensure that offenders with even one previous felony conviction go to prison, rather than receiving probation.
Gang Offenders – Plea agreements concerning gang crimes were toughened in 2008. For example, if a defendant is a documented gang member possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime as part of his participation in a criminal syndicate, prison time must be part of the plea agreement.

Illegal Immigration Crackdowns – Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio have led the nation’s toughest crackdowns on illegal immigration. These have included enforcement of the state human-smuggling law against both smugglers and illegal immigrants and workplace raids and prosecutions related to the Legal Arizona Workers Act.

These policies have had a direct impact on the number of criminals Maricopa County has sent to the state prison system. In 2005, that figure was 10,733. The next year it climbed to 12,363. In 2008, that number rose further to 13, 386.

The prolife folks at CactusAlliance.org have launched their own blog at CactusAlliance.com. They’ve posted the original letter Rep. McComish sent to Maricopa County Chair Rob Haney explaining why he voted against the bill to ban sanctuary cities.

Dear Representative McComish,

I was elected as MCRC Chairman by conservative precinct committeemen who wanted someone to speak out clearly within the party to represent their opinions. These PCs believed they were being ignored by most of Arizona’s congressional delegation who were advocating for amnesty and other liberal agenda items, such as closing gun shows and Campaign Finance Reform. They also believed that too many Republican state legislators sided with former Governor Napolitano to pass Democrat budgets and legislation and were not representing the conservative beliefs of the PCs.

Your comments in defense of those Republicans who opposed Sen. Pearce’s bill to end sanctuary cities have been addressed previously by Sen. Pearce here.

Your position on my job responsibilities echos the comment of Senator Kyl after the defeat of the amnesty bill he championed. The bill was defeated through the leadership of party officials and Republican activists who publicly opposed the bill. I was proud to be one of those officials. Senator Kyl stated that the party had exceeded its role. He further stated that the party exists to get Republicans elected, not declare positions on issues. Sen. Kyl’s position is a common misconception by many party incumbents.

I disagree with both of you. The party does exist to elect Republicans, raise money, provide volunteers & resources, etc. But the party must first be guided by our Constitution and the party platform, otherwise our existence is unjustified. Too many Republican officials have supported incumbents who have shown themselves to be unworthy of the Republican name. This has led to disastrous election results in 2006 and 2008. I cite Senator Specter and “Jumpin” Jim Jeffords as only two examples of many.

Republican activists and party leaders must oppose legislation which is unconstitutional, and support legislation which is critical to the very survival of our party and country. Certainly, the Democrats will not. They are advocating for the same legislation as these wayward Republicans. Only party activists prevented passage of the amnesty bill. Only party activists gave us Prop 200 over the objections of our entire congressional delegation. Only party activists gave us employer sanctions over the objections from members of our state and federal delegation. Only party activists stopped the attempt to close the gun shows, and fought against the loss of Constitutionally guaranteed free speech which occurred because of the Campaign Finance Reform bill. This egregious bill was introduced by a Republican Senator, passed by a Republican congress and signed by a Republican president. There are many more examples of party officials and activists finding it necessary to speak out against Republicans who stray from Constitutional and platform principles. Here is a famous party official you will recognize. Tom DeLay: “John McCain has done the most to hurt the GOP”

I would not meet my responsibility as a party leader if I were to ignore the Constitution and platform for the benefit of someone with an “R” after their name who fails to advance a Republican agenda. I will continue to give voice to Republican activists who feel their elected officials have let them down and no longer represent them.

I will not offer an apology where none is warranted, and certainly I will not resign as you request. Instead, I would urge you and others who did not support Sen. Pearce’s bill to realize that the illegal alien invasion has a massive detrimental effect on a myriad of issues. To grant wholesale citizenship to those who would swell the ranks of the Democrat party is political suicide. I urge you to make anti-sanctuary legislation a top priority next session.

Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio, County Attorney Thomas and all the law enforcement agencies which are on record as supporting Sen. Pearce’s bill deserve nothing less than our commitment to achieve these objectives.

You state that you believe the “County Party has some rules regarding endorsements that require 60% approval of the EGC.” You also believe that as a result of these rules, I should obtain 60% approval before I publicly take sides in a policy dispute.

The bylaw to which you refer requires a 60% approval by the EGC members in order for the EGC to endorse a candidate in a primary election. There is no bylaw which restricts the Chairman’s freedom of political speech. In any case, I was representing my own beliefs and not those of the EGC.

A third point you make is that as county party leader I have voluntarily placed restrictions on my free speech. Again, I must disagree. It is wholly inconsistent to believe that I have less freedom to speak after my election than I had before my election. I am confident that our Founders drafted their First Amendment, contemplating that this freedom of speech protection would apply to all citizens, including Republican Party Officials.

My hope is that in the coming session, Republican State legislators will back strong anti-illegal immigration legislation so that party officials will not feel compelled to speak out in opposition. I believe that you can play a positive role in advancing that legislation as we move forward– focused on passing laws in support of the Constitution and the Republican Platform.

Respectfully,

Rob Haney

Another unfortunate thing about not passing the Sanctuary City bill is it would have ensured that Sheriff Arpaio’s illegal immigration enforcement funding cannot be taken away, as Napolitano has done to him. The Sanctuary Six Republicans who refused to vote on HB2280 really hurt our state when it comes to illegal immigration enforcement.  Sonoran News has an article discussing Rep. Barto’s failure to appear for a vote on the bill. They discovered that this is not the first time Barto has avoided voting on an illegal immigration bill – which has the same effect as a no vote. Here is what they found -

During the 2006 legislative session, Barto voted “present” on House Bill 2577 (illegal aliens; employment; verification) and failed to vote during the third reading.

Barto refused to vote on HB2580 (illegal aliens; serious felonies; bail).

Barto voted “present” on Feb. 6 on HB 2582 but then refused to vote on March 9, while finally voting “yea” a few days later.

She voted “present” on HB 2837, an anti-sanctuary bill, later voting against it.

Initially Barto voted “present” on another bill, dealing with illegal aliens and trespassing, but later voted against it.

Rep. Nancy Barto was one of six legislators (aka the “Sanctuary Six“) who walked out during the vote on HB2280, a bill to ban sanctuary cities, resulting in its defeat. As discussed in a prior post, Barto ran on a platform sounding tough on illegal immigration. Turns out her fellow five walkers also have made statements in the past indicating they would be tough on illegal immigration. They can’t have it both ways, if you’re going to represent to your constituents that you will vote for laws cracking down on illegal immigration, you can’t sneak out your responsibility as a legislator to vote, which essentially amounts to a “no” vote defeating the bill. Let’s look at what these other members of the Sanctuary Six said in the past:

Rep. Rich Crandall – Dist. 19

2008 Publicity Pamphlet:
There are several issues being addressed by the legislature that are important to me but my top four are education, safety and security, family values and meaningful economic development. I am for school choice, a strong border, protecting the unborn and lowering taxes, especially business and personal property taxes.”

What one state action do you think would work best to combat the problem of illegal immigration. Why?

The currently enacted employer sanctions legislation needs to be given a chance to work. Before we add more regulations to businesses, let’s see how the already passed bills work.

from http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/questionnaire2008/legislative08.php?action=ViewAns&canname=crandar

Rep. Adam Driggs – Dist. 11

2008 Publicity Pamphlet:
“I currently have my own law firm, specializing in federal immigration law. Immigration is one of the most controversial issues confronting our state today. My practical knowledge in this area will be an asset as the state works to solve one of its biggest problems.”

State Rep. Adam Driggs, R-Phoenix, introduced a bill in February that would increase penalties for human smugglers and make selling, renting or leasing property for the purpose of smuggling a felony.
from http://www.saveourstate.org/vforums/showthread.php?t=40135

Rep. Bill Konopnicki – Dist. 5

• House Bill 2386 — Employer sanctions. Establish a fine and civil penalty for employers who knowingly hire illegal workers. Primary sponsor: Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-Safford.
from http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/165295

Defending his employer sanctions bills on Horizon on Jan. 22, 2008 -
“If the individuals [critics] would read the bills and see what is there, they would actually see that it is strengthening the law and removing some of the problems. It puts teeth into the employer sanctions law so it can be enforced. Now we have a lot of people who have the emotion piece that say ‘Oh he’s trying to tear the law down,’ but in fact what we’re really trying to do is have something that we can live with. The citizens of the state of Arizona want something that’s enforceable. These bills make that law more enforceable.”
from http://www.azpbs.org/horizon/detailvid.php?id=1346

Regarding building a private prison to house illegal immigrants –
“This is a creative idea and worthy of exploration,” said Republican Rep. Bill Konopnicki of Safford.
from http://realcostofprisons.org/blog/archives/2005/02/az_wants_to_bui.html

His recommendations on 2006 ballot propositions:
Yes on Prop. 100, prohibiting bail for illegal immigrants accused of serious crimes
Yes on Prop. 104, English as official language
from http://web.archive.org/web/20070907115057/www.kono4.us/exec/eAnnouncements.asp?id=24

Rep. Lucy Mason Dist. 1

2008 Publicity Pamphlet:
“Lucy believes it is critical to secure our borders. She met with federal Homeland Security officials and as a result, proposed a border security plan that increases law enforcement on the border immediately, deports criminal illegals quickly, and protects Arizona citizens by providing resources that support the federal government’s plan, rather than duplicating it.”

Rep. Doug Quelland Dist. 10

Supported Prop. 200
from http://www.pan2004.com/about.htm

X

f) Children of illegal immigrants, born in the United States, should not automatically receive U.S. citizenship.

from http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=16323#863