Grassroots Rally Team

Public safety: Pinal sheriff heads to D.C., stresses border security to Congress

On an invitation from Sen. John McCain, Pinal County sheriff Paul Babeu spoke in front of Congress last week and discussed current border security with the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security.

“I think that this year, even though the debate has been heated, I believe this is our best chance to secure the border,” Babeu said.

He indicated that there was bi-partisan support from the committee and estimates some sort of immigration reform could be approved by the end of the year.

“It was a great opportunity,” Babeu said. “(The testimony) was received very well. I couldn’t have been prouder of our senator John McCain; he stood for Arizona and represented us very well.”

He said he and McCain submitted a number of first-hand accounts from Arizona residents who live near drug cartel hideouts and the crimes that have resulted from illegal immigration. He said he also cited crime statistics related to cartels and illegal immigrants.

Babeu said he wanted to make it clear to the committee (and others) is that Mexico is not the enemy of the U.S., but to the drug cartels instead.

“What we need is a secure border,” he said...[Full Article]