Giffords Invites Cheney to Tour Arizona-Mexico Border
Congressional Hopeful Demands Federal Action
TUCSON €“ Former State Sen. Gabrielle Giffords today invited Vice President Dick Cheney, in Tucson to support Senator John Kyl, to tour the U.S.-Mexico border with her while he is in Arizona.
“Federal neglect of the border has forced Arizona to bear the brunt of failed immigration policies,” said Sen. Giffords. “This neglect burdens our law enforcement, our health care institutions, and our environment. It is clearly time for the Administration to take action. I will be touring the border Friday morning with Lieutenant Tomlinson of the Cochise County Sheriff’s Dept., and I have asked the Vice President to join us so he can see first-hand what Federal neglect has meant for our state.”
While the Administration has called for comprehensive immigration reform along the lines of Senator McCain’s proposed legislation, President Bush has not spoken in detail this year about the need for its passage. Senator Kyl, the beneficiary of the Vice President’s visit, does not support the Administration’s approach, and has called for a non-comprehensive, enforcement-only policy.
Sen. Giffords promised to fight for a comprehensive border and immigration reform approach if she is elected to the U.S. House from Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
“Communities near the border should not be forced to fulfill Federal government responsibilities,” she said. “For too long, people living along the border and the taxpayers of Southern Arizona have borne the brunt of this Federal issue. If the Vice President could see the problem up close, he could bring back to Washington the Arizona perspective that is so needed.”
