Perhaps it’s time that the issue of the porous southern U.S. border, a problem long simmering but kept under the lid by many for fear of being trumped by the race card, can finally be faced.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has joined Gov. Bill Richardson in declaring a state of emergency along her state’s border with Mexico.
The order releases $1.5 million in emergency money for counties that lie along the border. Jeanine L’Ecuyer, a spokeswoman for the Democratic governor, said the money is intended for use by counties and municipalities to cover overtime pay for law enforcement officers, repairs of border fences and costs related to illegal immigrants’ deaths.
Richardson attracted international attention by declaring a state of emergency in four southern New Mexico counties last week. He spent part of Monday afternoon in and out of a TV production room at the state Capitol, which beamed his comments across the country.
The first-term Democrat said he had to declare the emergency, which provides $1.75 million in state and federal funding for additional law enforcement along the border.
“We’re talking about a violent situation,” he said between appearances. “We’re talking about illegal drugs coming in. We’re talking about kidnapping. We’re talking about police being shot at. We’re talking about a violent situation that has to be dealt with.
“Something like this is a wake-up call to the Congress that they need a federal immigration policy. They need to deal with issues of legal migration.”
I’ve pointed out the violent situation before; northen Mexico has essentially become a madhouse, and Nurse Ratched ain’t calling the shots.
Of far greater concern is the fact that our nation is overly concerned about political touchy-feely issues, knowing full well that neither Canada nor Mexico is willing and able to control who is using their country as a means to enter the U.S. And trust me, the radical Islamists know that too.