Wilcox Range News
On the day Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Barber was to hold a meeting in Douglas to discuss border security, some members of the U.S. Senate — Republican and Democrat — were saying they want to start a bipartisan action to reform immigration.
Arizona GOP U.S. Sen. John McCain was one of three Republicans who joined three Democrats, and together are calling for comprehensive immigration reform.
“I’m the first to admit that the security situation along the southwest border is not perfect. There remain several areas, particularly in Arizona, where people’s homes are being invaded, where drug smugglers are crossing property every night,” McCain said in a statement on Monday.
Arizona’s senior senator said greater focus must be used to apprehend drug traffickers and other criminals who cross into the U.S.
As part of securing the border, McCain, along with Republican U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida, and Democrats Chuck Schumer of New York, Dick Durbin of Illinois, and Bob Menendez of New Jersey, agreed the border has to be secured before reform is addressed. McCain said to combat the continuing illegal activities crossing into the U.S. from Mexico, “… we need to continue to invest in UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), radar and other proven surveillance systems that will give Border Patrol the ability to detect and apprehend all illegal activities into the United States.”
If you’d like to discuss immigration matters, Brian Bergin, bbergin@roselawgroup.com
