The violence occurring along the U.S./Mexico border is moving further and further northward until American citizens in all areas of the country are no longer safe from it. A lack of adequate border security is a situation that has been neglected for far too long by presidents and Congress from both political parties. It has now reached a point where some lawmakers are calling on the Army or National Guard to step in and fill the role that should be manageable by domestic law enforcement agencies.

Rather than controlling the constant flow of illegal aliens over our southern borders, Washington has ignored the problem until today there are an estimated 11 to 20 million illegals in this country. Even in strong economic conditions, supporting mass groups of noncitizens with U.S. citizens’ tax money and resources puts a strain on our economy. 

But the problem is not simply the millions of illegals who have poured into the U.S. over the years; the problem is now the very real threat of terrorists, violent street gangs such as MS13, drug cartels and international crime syndicates who are all wellpositioned to benefit from our unsecured borders; worse, they are doing so. 

Given the unstable and violent nature of some world leaders and extremist groups, we cannot continue to ignore or politicize the situation. To do so simply makes it easier for a terrorist or terrorist group to sneak biological, chemical, small tactical nuclear weapons and/or other radiation dispersal devices into our country. National security demands that we properly secure the borders. Plainly, the federal government has been derelict in this regard and it has placed American citizens at risk. Rather than sitting back and continuing to test the wind on illegal immigration and making it a political issue, Washington needs to concentrate on protecting all our borders, north and south, as well as our seaports and airports. 

The solution to illegal immigration is not amnesty or an easy path to citizenship, as some lawmakers are proposing. To grant amnesty and full rights of citizenship, including the right to vote, to illegal aliens not only makes a mockery of our laws, it would be an insult to every immigrant who has gone through the process of achieving legal U.S. citizenship. It is unreasonable to grant those who have entered our country illegally the right to vote and select the very people who will decide highlevel policies, such as immigration. 

America has always welcomed people from other countries, but having people cross our borders illegally cannot, and should not, be allowed. It is a direct threat to our economic security, our national security and our sovereignty, and places an even heavier burden on future generations. I support the Arizona legislature and the citizens of Arizona in their efforts to address the issue, and urge the president and Congress to step up to the plate and do their job.