issues

Our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. The first step in fixing our immigration system is to secure our borders and that must be Washington’s priority. Securing our borders, and having operational control over them, is critical to our national security, preventing crime and for public safety.

I toured our southern border near Nogales, Arizona, where Border Patrol Officer Brian Terry was murdered by foreign nationals involved in drug smuggling. I have seen firsthand how easy it is to enter our nation illegally. Border security means a stronger capability to stop potential terrorists, catch drug smugglers and gun runners, prevent gang violence and breakup human trafficking rings. 

The second step in fixing our immigration system is enforcing the laws we already have on the books. On average the United States welcomes over 1 million lawful permanent residents a year, 26,000 asylum seekers, 120,000 refugees, and about 700,000 people are naturalized as citizens. We must encourage people to follow existing law and use immigration system to come here legally.