Border Security in Arizona: Enough is Enough
It’s unfortunate that Southeast Arizona Rancher Roger Barnett felt compelled to use force to protect his family and property when he detained individuals trespassing on his land until proper authorities arrived.
I trust the court system will weigh the facts and deal equitably with the issue before the court.
But, enough is enough.
The organization I represent, Arizona Farm Bureau, has many members who live near the Mexican border. From Yuma to Douglas, they tell of the same frustration of illegal migration across their farms and ranches leaving cut fences, open gates and trash behind. They tell of break-ins and coming upon heavily armed drug runners and human smugglers. They also tell of the human suffering when they find those who die on their rangeland or those who knock on their door for food and water because they are lost or have been abandoned by their "guide."
Blame for this problem is laid directly at the feet of our Congress because of inaction on the immigration issue. Without securing the border to thwart all illegal activity and updating our worker visa system, border residents will continue to have unwanted and dangerous traffic across their farms and ranches.
The border needs to be secured in conjunction with an updated visa system that allows legal access through the border for temporary and permanent workers. Workers that our U.S. Department of Labor has determined are needed and do not replace willing American workers - workers that will be employed by businesses that have demonstrated to the U.S. Labor Department that American workers are not available.
An updated and streamlined visa system using new technologies is key to securing the border. This frees up enforcement resources to concentrate on the illegal activity that remains.
Border security in Arizona needs to be a priority!
