Texas Governor Rick Perry has now stepped into the 2012 Presidential race and there are many things going around about him, both good and bad. The RINOs of the GOP are attacking him and the Democrats are as well. That alone says he is worth looking at which has inspired this article of looking closer at the Governor of Texas.
First, there are many articles floating around claiming that he is soft on illegal immigration or that he supports open borders. The truth is not quite so simple by any means. He wrote Obama a letter regarding the border problem back in August 2010 which he hand delivered to Obama at the airport in Austin. The letter said things like “The need for border security along the Rio Grande should no longer be underestimated by the federal government, Mr. President. An unsecured border is a threat to our national security and to the safety and security of all our citizens,” and “In recent years, the State of Texas has committed hundreds of millions of dollars in state funds and state personnel into border safety and security....to fill in the gaps where the U.S. Border Patrol is stretched too thin. These brave federal agents are all doing what they can, but more help is desperately needed.” And, “In Texas, just as in our nation as a whole, border security affects our safety, job creation, our quality of life. American cannot have a rational discussion of immigration reform without real, effective border security. The federal government must step up and finally do what is needed to secure our borders.”
Is there other proof, other than a letter that he wrote to Obama? Yes.
In 2007, in his State of the State address, he said, “I am proposing a $100 million investment in a more secure border. There is no such thing as homeland security without border security. It is not hyperbole to say terrorists view our international border with Mexico as a prime point of entry--that is the conclusion of the U.S. intelligence community.
While the vast majority of people who come here illegally are economic migrants simply seeking a better life, the small percentage seeking to cause us harm don't dress differently. Nor do they put out press advisories in advance of their arrival. They don't want us to know they are here until they have done mortal damage to our people.
I support strategic fencing in urban areas along the border. But I also believe, like border sheriffs, that the best solution involves added manpower, not unmanned walls.”
And in 2009, in his State of the State address, he said, “As we continue to strengthen our border, we must also consider the essential role that federal immigration policy, or the lack thereof, plays in the safety of our citizens and integrity of our state.
After revelations that a Dallas man had set up a cottage industry procuring Texas driver licenses for illegal aliens hailing from countries around the world, I am an even stronger supporter of the DPS initiative to issue specialized, vertical driver licenses, to identify those who have overstayed their visa.
I also support an end to the notion of sanctuary cities. Local government sends the wrong message when they pick and choose what laws they want their peace officers to enforce.
We should also track the citizenship status of those receiving state-funded services so we can get our hands around the financial impact of Washington's failure to handle the immigration challenge. Some may oppose these efforts, but they are commonsense approaches to protecting our citizens' lives and resources.”
Yes, he does support in-state tuition for the children of illegal aliens who have gone to school here but that is because he doesn't believe the children should suffer for the actions of their parents. A rather fair perspective some might say.
He also had doing away with sanctuary cities on an emergency agenda for the 2011 legislative session, and added it to the bills called for during the special session as well. The fact that it didn't pass lies at the feet of the State Legislature as he can't force them to pass anything, only request it. Some would say he could call another special session, but at what cost? Why should he call another special session, cost the people of Texas another $1 million just to have them refuse to pass it again? That would be a costly way to prove they are the problem when it should already be obvious, as he has been calling for this since 2009.
He may not be perfect on illegal immigration but his stance of not penalizing a child for the actions of the parent isn't altogether wrong, at least on the face of it. And he definitely supports the federal government enforcing federal immigration laws and securing the border which would go a long way to solving our illegal immigration problem.
There is much more to cover regarding Governor Rick Perry so please click subscribe if you would like to read the rest of the story.
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