By Gary Kiehne
As a resident of a border state and in my role as a father and grandfather, I am deeply concerned about threats to our security. The shortcomings realized under President Obama have been destructive to security at home and abroad.
With a Republican president and the support of a strong Congress, we can take a substantial step toward increasing national security. That starts by immediately securing our borders.
A lack in border control enables too great an opportunity to enter our nation illegally. And the problem begins right here at home – nearly half of illegal crossings occur along Arizona’s border.
From Yuma to Nogales, the surface management is controlled by federal authority and is crippled by stifling regulations on the bombing range, wildlife habitat areas, and reservations that make it nearly impossible to patrol.
I support a buffer zone that spans at least 5-10 miles, allowing agents to freely patrol. We should build a fence several miles inside the buffer zone, forcing illegal entrants to transport scaling equipment for several miles. Finally, it’s time to enact common-sense policies, utilizing technology and implementing more patrols.
After a lifetime of ranching near the southern border, I have firsthand experience dealing with security risks posed by the lack of enforcement of our immigration laws. If elected to serve as your next Congressman, I will put America’s security ahead of political correctness, and that starts with the border.
Gary Kiehne is a candidate to represent Arizona District 1 in the United States Congress.
This op/ed piece appeared in the April issue of InMaricopa.
![An image of shredded paper. [Pixabay]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/shredded-paper-168650_1280-100x70.jpg "Shred-A-Thon to take place tomorrow")
