Immigration

September 11, 2001, the subsequent War Against Terror and the recent economic crisis have shown us just how fragile our nation’s security can be. One of the ways to help provide stability to our nation is to know and understand the people immigrating to our great country. We need an immigration plan to match the threats and technology of the 21st century.

The Border

I support the Secure Border Initiative that will secure America's borders and stop illegal immigration. This initiative will increase the number of border patrols, boost the use of technology to patrol our borders and expand detention facilities to reduce the "catch and release" practice.

A secure border will greatly reduce illegal immigration, curtail the smuggling of drugs into our country, and prevent terrorists from exploiting holes in our border defenses.

Interior Enforcement

I oppose amnesty in any form. Any person in this country who has broken any of our laws should be punished accordingly.

As governor, I signed an Executive Order that required all state agencies to determine the eligibility status of all applicants for state jobs. It also required companies that provide services to the state to verify the employment eligibility of their employees. Only those that have entered our country legally can be a state employee or receive state benefits.

Expanding our Current Immigration Programs

Many of our nation’s industries, from engineering to agriculture, rely on a workforce from abroad. Expanding the H- class visa programs will allows more jobs to flow to the United States, as opposed to outsourcing jobs to other nations. Our current guest worker programs must be effective and safe. But those who seek citizenship in our country must follow the laws before being granted that great privilege.