Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer called on leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate on Thursday to help stop the influx of illegal immigrants who are arriving at America’s borders.
Brewer said in a letter to House Speaker Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (R-Nev.) that thousands of immigrants from Central America, including many unaccompanied children, are coming to the border and surrendering themselves to border patrol agents.
“By the Obama administration’s own estimation, 230,000 unaccompanied alien minors are expected to cross through the Rio Grande sector by the end of next year,” Brewer said.
Brewer said the increase in illegal immigrants from Central America is a direct result of the Obama administration’s unwillingness to enforce immigration laws. She also questioned steps being taken to ensure that the illegal immigrants do not have criminal histories.
“The administration’s refusal to properly verify that violent criminals are not among those entering the United States shows an alarming lack of concern for our homeland’s security,” Brewer said. “As a nation, we cannot sit back and allow this policy to continue.”
Brewer said the administration had not been forthcoming and called on Boehner and Reid to use their congressional authority to get answers and prevent the unfolding crisis.
“Protecting our nation and its citizens is the federal government’s primary and fundamental responsibility, but it cannot be done as long as we have an unsecured border and a federal executive that invites and encourages illegal activity,” Brewer said.