PULLEN, AZGOP COMMEND BUSH, HOMELAND SECURITY
Phoenix, AZ— Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen said today President Bush had “hit the nail on the head” with his forthcoming initiative designed to curb illegal hiring expected to be enacted next week by the Department of Homeland Security. The rules, proposed last year, would mandate employers fire employees who use fake Social Security Numbers to get their job.
“We have long been saying the first step is to secure our borders,” Pullen said. “Arizona residents – regardless of party affiliation – are tired of the drugs, the guns and the other problems that come across the border along with those individuals who are simply looking for a job.
“Once we have honestly, truthfully secured our borders with legislation backed by Arizona’s own Senator Kyl that would get the fence built and beef-up border patrols, we can then start meaningful discussions about worker programs and address the issues of those living illegally in the U.S. today,” Pullen said.
“At the Summer Meeting of the Republican National Committee last week, the RNC members from around the nation nearly unanimously passed my resolution reaffirming our commitment as a party to secure our borders first. These new Homeland Security rules show that President Bush, the Republican National Committee members, and our parties in the states are now working very closely together to make that a reality. National security is priority-number-one.”
A copy of Chairman Pullen’s resolution passed nearly-unanimously by the members of the Republican National Committee on Friday, August 3, 2007 follows.
RESOLUTION URGING IMMEDIATE CONGRESSIONAL ACTION
TO SECURE OUR BORDERS
WHEREAS, it is reliably estimated that at least twelve million citizens of other countries have entered and currently remain in the United States illegally;
WHEREAS, it is reliably estimated that between two and three million illegal crossings of the borders of the United States continue to occur each year;
WHEREAS, the ability of millions of unidentified persons to illegally enter and remain in the United States presents a grave risk to the sovereignty of the United States and security of the American people;
WHEREAS, Congress has already authorized the construction of 854 miles of border fencing and appropriated one billion dollars to construct it and it is reliably reported that at least 700 miles of fence needs to be constructed; and,
WHEREAS, over the past seven years President Bush has proposed increasing the funding for border security three-fold to nearly $12 billion for 2008, doubling the size of the border patrol to more than 18,000 officers, increasing the use of technology through more than 6,000 new ground sensors and nearly 800 new cameras and authorizing improved roads, barriers, and fencing to further secure our borders; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Members of the Republican National Committee urge that the Congress of the United States, as a matter of highest priority, take all necessary steps to provide appropriate authority and means to accomplish the following:
(1) Complete the construction of the border fencing that has been authorized as expeditiously as is reasonably possible; and
(2) Effectively secure the borders of the United States to illegal entry by every appropriate additional means, fully equipping and empowering the Border Patrol and using our National Guard and the U.S. military if necessary.
As approved by the Republican National Committee, August 3, 2007
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