Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico today issued the following statementregarding Republican Jason Chaffetz’s immigration proposal.
Mr. Chaffetz's immigration proposal is offensive and inhumane and should be rejected out of hand. His statements do nothing more than add more of the same divisive political rhetoric that incites confrontation and does not solve the problem, and is not what the Western Governor's Association supports.
This is another graphic example of why the US needs a comprehensive immigration policy that is tough yet fair. We can have a policy that helps secure our borders while dealing in a responsible and humane way with immigrants who break our laws.
At the same time we must also resolve the status of the 12 million undocumented immigrants already here so they can become legal, productive members of our society if they learn English, follow our laws, pay fines and get in line for a path to citizenship.
Governor Bill Richardson
Chaffetz, the Republican nominee for Congress in Utah’s third district, has been under constant criticism for his proposal which calls for imprisoning undocumented immigrants into tent-cities ringed with barbed wire. Congressman Mike Honda, Chairman of the Asian/Pacific Islander caucus, issued a statement on September 9th calling it ‘an embarrassment to all Americans’.
Governor Richardson was a candidate for the 2008 Democratic Party nomination for President. He has previously served as a U.S. Representative, Ambassador to the United Nations, and as the U.S. Secretary of Energy.
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Wow! This is huge! Come on liberals. Rally behind Bennion Spencer! Help us faithful Republicans in Utah defeat Chaffetz. (Then I promise you will never hear from me again).