SW Govenor's Conf wraps up w/ message to Congress

August 31, 2006

'Terminator worries over avian flu " (see last paragraph)

Conference wraps up with a message to Congress

By CLARA TUMA / KVUE News

The U.S. - Mexico governors' conference ended in Austin Friday, but

not before the four U.S. governors in attendance demanded immediate

immigration reform from Congress.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry joined governors from California, Arizona and

New Mexico in demanding that Congress solve what the governors

call " an immigration crisis. "

" As governors who are on the front lines of America's immigration

crisis, we write to urge you to take real action and pass

comprehensive reform legislation that secures the border, protects

taxpayers and restores the rule of law by practically deal with the

estimated 12 million illegal immigrants currently in the country, "

the letter says.

The letter is signed by Perry, California Gov. Arnold

Schwarzenegger, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and New Mexico Gov.

Bill Richardson.

It says: " In all of our states, we face a crisis not of our making.

Over the past six years the combination of lax and ineffective

enforcement of our borders and the failure to enforce immigration

laws has led to an explosion in the illegal immigration population.

As a result, our states are flooded with illegal immigrants, our

taxpayers are angry and citizens and non & #8209;citizens alike are losing

respect for the rule of law. "

The demand for action was the governor's final action during a

two & #8209;day meeting with governors from six Mexican states.

The conference ended with all 10 governors signing a joint

resolution calling for increased border security, including tougher

penalties for those who build or use secret tunnels to get across

the U.S. & #8209; Mexico border.

Schwarzenegger said he is particularly concerned about finding a

joint way to fight a possible avian flu pandemic.

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