Giffords Denounces Congressional Road Hearing as Political Charade

TUCSON - Gabrielle Giffords denounced today’s Congressional hearing on immigration in Sierra Vista as political theater and urged Washington to take action and stop playing politics.

“These hearings are smoke screens by the Republican Congress to try to distract people from the truth that Washington has accomplished absolutely nothing to solve the crisis on our border over the last six years,” said Giffords. “It’s time to act and stop playing politics. Arizonans have been raising this issue for years, and Congress has not gotten the job done. Arizonans should not be left bearing the brunt of the Federal government’s failures on our border.”

Giffords pointed to last month’s Congressional hearings in Phoenix and Yuma as an example of the lack of action coming from the current Congress.

“Last month’s hearings were stage-managed and choreographed so tightly that only pre-screened people were allowed to speak to the panel,” Giffords said. “Those addressing the panel were reading scripts that had been reviewed by the Committee. Congress needs to take action, instead of putting on a travelling road show.”

Giffords also cited a Congressional delegation’s visit last month to the border as an example of Congress’ lack of seriousness in addressing the issue. According to news reports, the delegation took a tour of the border near Nogales, which was scheduled to last an hour and include three locations, but was cut short after 20 minutes because “the lawmakers were tired.”

“In the past six years, Congress has not produced results,” Giffords said. “In fact, things have gotten worse, and the federal government has left Arizona to pay the tab for their failures. It doesn’t take a hearing to understand that.”

Under the current Administration, the number of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border is down 31%, and the number of illegal immigrants detained in the country’s interior is down 36%. Additionally, the number of employers prosecuted by the federal government for unlawfully employing immigrants dropped from 182 in 1999 to four in 2003.

“Congress’ failure to act on immigration is another reason that we need a new direction in Washington,” Giffords said.

Giffords has proposed a sensible and effective approach to the crisis on our border, including:

• increasing the number of border patrol agents.
• increased border security by using modern technology including radar, drones and other methods of electronic surveillance.
• tough employer sanctions for businesses that hire illegal immigrants.
• federal reimbursement for Arizona hospitals and law enforcement agencies that bear the brunt of the costs for the failures of the federal government.
• a viable guest worker program that meets the needs of Arizona’s economy.
• no amnesty €“ but a path to citizenship for otherwise law-abiding undocumented workers who have been working here for years, own up to their responsibilities as new citizens by paying back taxes and fines, and learn English.