- At an immigration reform rally in Washington.
NMPolitics.net asked New Mexico’s six candidates for governor what they think of Arizona’s new, controversial immigration law. Here’s what they had to say:
Allen Weh
Republican Allen Weh said Arizona’s law “compels us more than ever to enforce existing law, or risk becoming an even bigger magnet for illegal immigrants and criminals.”
“As governor, I’ll immediately rescind the executive order put in place by the Richardson-Denish administration that bars state police from reporting illegal immigrants that they stop or apprehend,” Weh said. “I’ll also do what it takes to stop issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, because New Mexico has become a portal for illegal immigrants to obtain official documentation that helps them burrow into the United States.”
Weh also said New Mexico is “currently a very weak link in our homeland security, and I will change that.”
Susana Martinez
Adam Deguire, campaign manager for Republican Susana Martinez, said the responsibility to deal with immigration has been left to states because the federal government has failed to adequately address the issue.
“Susana Martinez supports the right of any state to ensure the security of its citizens, and today, that means dealing directly with immigration and border concerns,” Deguire said. “In New Mexico, Martinez believes we must implement fundamental reforms such as revoking driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, opposing free tuition through taxpayer-funded lottery scholarships for those in the country illegally and end the sanctuary policy that prevents state police from inquiring about the immigration status of criminals.”
Deguire said Martinez is “the only candidate with deep experience on immigration issues as her office prosecutes over 600 cases related to border security every year and works with various law enforcement agencies to secure convictions against members of Mexico’s most violent drug cartels.”
Pete Domenici Jr.
Republican Pete Domenici Jr. said it “may be possible to tailor appropriate provisions of Arizona’s recent law for New Mexico.”
“As governor, I will oppose sanctuary status in New Mexico, will secure our borders, and will enhance law enforcement tools, while recognizing New Mexico’s heritage and protecting individual rights,” he said. “… Waiting for Congress is not sufficient.”
Diane Denish
Democrat Diane Denish said it’s clear that “our immigration laws are broken and that we must do more to secure our borders, but racial profiling is wrong – plain and simple – and the new Arizona law goes too far.”
“Here in New Mexico, we value our diversity,” Denish said. “It’s ingrained in our culture and it strengthens us as a people. While I do believe we must secure our borders and pass a comprehensive national immigration reform bill, we cannot give government a free pass to racially profile and infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens. We’re better than that here in New Mexico.”
Janice Arnold-Jones
Republican Janice Arnold-Jones said Arizona’s law “is a state response to federal inability to control our border and enforce federal law.”
“Arizona made violation of federal law a violation of state law, enabling local authorities to act – an essential step towards securing our borders, addressing narcoterrorism, limiting human trafficking and assuring jobs,” she said.
Doug Turner
Republican Doug Turner said states “are crying for help and looking for answers to stop illegal immigration and the associated gang and drug related crime.”
“I oppose components of this bill that may legitimize racial profiling,” Turner said of Arizona’s new law, “but am optimistic that the law will force the federal government to finally take action on the issue.”