Sens. McCain & Kyl 10-point plan to secure our border

The security situation along the Arizona-Mexico border is out of control. For years, I have demanded the Federal government do everything in its power to curb the violence spilling over from Mexico, and protect our citizens from the hardened criminals and drug smugglers that are coming across our border.

Sadly, despite my repeated calls for action, Washington has failed to respond.

But Arizonans know that we can’t wait any longer, and it’s time to increase the pressure on the Congressional liberals and Washington bureaucrats who are shirking their constitutional responsibility to keep America safe.

That’s why Senator Jon Kyl and I have proposed a comprehensive 10-point plan to secure our southern border.

The first step in our plan is the immediate deployment of 3,000 National Guard troops, and the simultaneous hiring and training of an additional 3,000 Customs and Border Protection Agents to be permanently stationed in the region.

Senator Kyl and I also believe that the Federal government must complete the 700 miles of fencing along the border, including the construction of double- and triple- layer fencing in appropriate areas.

The McCain/Kyl border security plan is supported by top Arizona law enforcement officials, including Pinal County Sherriff Paul Babeu and Cochise County Sherriff Larry Dever.

Recently, we’ve heard that the Obama Administration, in an attempt to play election year politics with border security, has floated the idea of moving forward on comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

While it is true that some industries in Arizona continue to struggle without a temporary worker program, I strongly believe that it would be irresponsible for Congress to address immigration reform while the security situation along our border continues to deteriorate.

Let me be clear: I am categorically opposed to amnesty for those who have entered our country illegally, and we must secure our border.

As Arizona’s senior senator, I will do everything I can to ensure the federal government fulfills its constitutional responsibility to secure our border.

Read the full 10 point plan that Senator Kyl and I have proposed below:

Senators McCain and Kyl’s Ten Point Border Security Action Plan

• 1. Immediately deploy 3,000 National Guard Troops along the Arizona/Mexico border, along with appropriate surveillance platforms, which shall remain in place until the Governor of Arizona certifies, after consulting with state, local and tribal law enforcement, that the Federal Government has achieved operational control of the border. Permanently add 3,000 Custom and Border Protection Agents to the Arizona/Mexico border by 2015.
  


• 2. Fully fund and support Operation Streamline in Arizona’s two Border Patrol Sectors to, at a minimum, ensure that repeat illegal border crossers go to jail for 15 to 60 days. Where Operation Streamline has been implemented, the number of illegal crossings has decreased significantly. Require the Obama Administration to complete a required report detailing the justice and enforcement resources needed to fully fund this program. Fully reimburse localities for any related detention costs.
  


• 3. Provide $100M, an increase of $40M, for Operation Stonegarden, a program that provides grants and reimbursement to Arizona’s border law enforcement for additional personnel, overtime, travel and other related costs related to illegal immigration and drug smuggling along the border.

• 4. Offer Hardship Duty Pay to Border Patrol Agents assigned to rural, high-trafficked areas, such as the CBP Willcox and Douglas Stations in the Tucson Sector.

• 5. Complete the 700 miles of fencing along the border with Mexico and construct double- and triple- layer fencing at appropriate locations along the Arizona-Mexico border.

• 6. Substantially increase the 25 mobile surveillance systems and three Predator B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in place today along the Arizona/Mexico border and ensure the border patrol has the resources necessary to operate the UAVs 24 hours a day seven days a week.

• 7. Send additional fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to the Arizona-Mexico Border. Increase funding for vital radio communications and interoperability between CBP and state, local, and tribal law enforcement to assist in apprehensions along the border.

• 8. Provide funding for additional Border Patrol stations in the Tucson Sector and explore the possibility of an additional Border Patrol sector for Arizona. Create six additional permanent Border Patrol Forward Operating Bases, and provide funding to upgrade the existing bases to include modular buildings, electricity and potable water. Complete construction of the planned permanent checkpoint in Arizona. Deploy additional temporary roving checkpoints and increase horse patrols throughout the Tucson Sector.
  


• 9. Require the Federal government to fully reimburse state and local governments for the costs of incarcerating criminal aliens. Start by at least funding the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) at its authorized level of $950 million.

• 10. Place one full-time Federal Magistrate in Cochise County and provide full funding for and authorization of the Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative to reimburse state, county, tribal, and municipal governments for costs associated with the prosecution and pre-trial detention of federally-initiated criminal cases declined by local offices of the United States Attorneys.