Pendragon_6
08-17-2005, 01:12 PM
First New Mexico, now Arizona
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Associated Press
Aug. 15, 2005 05:57 PM
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano declared an emergency Monday in four border counties because of problems related to lax border enforcement and moved to provide local governments in those counties with up to $1.5 million in state funding.
Napolitano's order directly released $200,000 from the state's emergency fund for disasters while her emergency council released an additional $1.3 million, spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer said.
The money is intended for use by counties and municipalities for a variety of purposes, including overtime pay for law enforcement officers, repairs of border fences, costs related to illegal immigrants' deaths, L'Ecuyer said.
Napolitano's action followed by three days a similar declaration by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Arizona is the nation's busiest entry point for illegal border-crossings, and illegal immigration has emerged as a significant political issue.
Crimes and other problems associated with the border include illegal immigration, vehicle thefts, drug smuggling and property damage.
"All of this, bottom line every last bit of this, is a federal responsibility but the federal government has not done what it needs to do and has promised to do," said L'Ecuyer,
She added that the actual damage and the level of frustration compelled Napolitano to act.
In Full
AZ Central (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0815borderemergency-ON.html)
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Associated Press
Aug. 15, 2005 05:57 PM
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano declared an emergency Monday in four border counties because of problems related to lax border enforcement and moved to provide local governments in those counties with up to $1.5 million in state funding.
Napolitano's order directly released $200,000 from the state's emergency fund for disasters while her emergency council released an additional $1.3 million, spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer said.
The money is intended for use by counties and municipalities for a variety of purposes, including overtime pay for law enforcement officers, repairs of border fences, costs related to illegal immigrants' deaths, L'Ecuyer said.
Napolitano's action followed by three days a similar declaration by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Arizona is the nation's busiest entry point for illegal border-crossings, and illegal immigration has emerged as a significant political issue.
Crimes and other problems associated with the border include illegal immigration, vehicle thefts, drug smuggling and property damage.
"All of this, bottom line every last bit of this, is a federal responsibility but the federal government has not done what it needs to do and has promised to do," said L'Ecuyer,
She added that the actual damage and the level of frustration compelled Napolitano to act.
In Full
AZ Central (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0815borderemergency-ON.html)