Jonathan Paton for Congress

Jonathan Paton endorsed an 18-point border security plan released today by the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association, stressing the urgent need for immediate action to end lawlessness along the border.

And Paton - who attended the press conference in Phoenix today where the plan was released - called on Gabrielle Giffords to finally listen to her constituents and adopt the group's recommendations.

Paton also continued his call for U.S. troops to be sent to the border - No. 2 on the "Restore Our Border Security Plan" - as a mechanism to add security and reduce violence immediately.

"I applaud the cattle growers' multifaceted plan to bring security immediately and will continue to work to bring action to this national security threat," Paton said. "This is not a new problem. Sadly, the ranchers and citizens living along the border know that better than anyone. Still, our politicians have continuously ignored the violence and mayhem in Southern Arizona. Gabrielle Giffords has dithered on this issue and ignored the people in her own district for too long. She's talked tough in TV ads here at home, but gone to Washington and voted to weaken our security. That's unacceptable."

Many of the provisions in the plan are things that Jonathan has long supported, both as a state lawmaker and a candidate for Congress. Those include: sending troops to the border, making it a felony to enter the country illegally, writing the state's human smuggling law and increasing funding to catch and prosecute those who break our immigration laws. Paton also opposes amnesty or a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Giffords, however, has said one thing in Arizona - but done another in Washington.

She was a co-sponsor of the STRIVE ACT, which provided a path to citizenship for illegal aliens. The bill also included the DREAM ACT, which would provide education benefits for illegal aliens as well as permanent residency. (HR 1645, 2007)

And she voted against funding the construction of at least two layers of reinforced fencing, and the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting and cameras along the border (RC 490, HR 2638, 6/15/2007).

"We need real action, not just election year rhetoric," Paton said. "I'm confident that enacting this plan by the cattle growers will finally bring us closer to securing our border and reducing the violence that is plaguing our community."

The 18-point plan:

      1. The judicial and law enforcement systems, which handle prosecution of these criminal activities, shall recognize and apply an enforcement mechanism that provides for the prosecution of illegally crossing into the U.S. over the Border, for the first time, as a felony barring any person from ever working or receiving residency visa status in the U.S.  No exceptions.

      2. Immediately deploy operational units of the U.S. Military to the Arizona/Mexico Border. Station overwhelming Border Patrol/Military blocking force denying illegal entry at the Border. 

      3. Establish permanent Forward Operating Bases (FOB) immediately adjacent to the U.S. border with Mexico.  (Suggesting at least one FOB every 12 miles)  

   4. Overhaul and add teeth to the “Pursuit and Apprehension” policies for Law Enforcement to assure deterrence and protect U.S. residents and State authorities from potential harm.  In the first instance, authorize the U.S. Military, Border Patrol, State and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies to use these beefed up policies to enforce existing laws.

 

   5. Authorize the use of force in the interdiction of vehicles and aircraft illegally crossing the U.S. Mexico Border. Empower the Local Law Enforcement leaders to adjust policies to meet conditions on the ground and not rely only upon inflexible procedures preventing Border Security.

 

   6. Enforce all existing immigration laws without exception.  Streamline and expedite deportation of illegal aliens.

 

   7. Add 3,000+ Arizona BP field agents by 2011.  Assure additional incremental hardware is part of Field Agent deployment.

 

   8. Increase County Law Enforcement permanent “Stonegarden Funding” for additional deputies and fully equipped 4 x 4 patrol vehicles.

 

   9. Expedite 2010 deployment of new generation digital radio technology to Arizona and New Mexico Border Patrol.

 

  10. Substantially increase Border Patrol Recon 3, MSS/Radar and FLIR mobile surveillance units and operators.  Assure additional incremental agents are deployed to operate this hardware and technology.

 

  11. Replace outdated Border Patrol Air & Marine Rotorcraft air support with contemporary rotorcraft and small single engine fixed wing.  Deploy air support on/near the U.S. Border.

 

  12. Establish mandatory Cellular coverage for remote non-service areas.

 

  13. Equip Border Patrol and County Law Enforcement with GMRS “Rhino” GPS radios allowing homeowners and ranchers to communicate in remote areas.

 

  14. Establish “No Seam”  Wilcox/Douglas, Arizona and Lordsburg New Mexico Border Policy Corridor into its own Border Patrol Sector.

 

  15. Increase and fund additional Arizona Horse Patrol Units.

 

  16. Streamline federal claims process for recovering damages caused by illegal alien burglaries, vandalism and ranch infrastructure/livestock losses to include feed stock losses on both private & public lands (fires).

 

  17. Adequately fund State and Federal Attorneys’ Offices to assure timely prosecutions of Border related offences.  Stiffen 9th Circuit Appeals Court immigration and narcotics prosecutorial policies.

 

  18. Measure Border Security success on the community via a monthly disclosure of all crimes, by title and code, committed and suspected to be committed by illegal alien activities which have conducted burglaries, home invasions, and ranching infrastructure/livestock losses. Establish operational transparency for Arizona residents of illegal alien and smuggling activity in their respective Border Patrol Sector and Communities to include County law Enforcement statistics and incidents.