Governor Janet Napolitano made a big show of sending a “bill” to the federal government for the costs of illegal immigration, complete with tough talk and finger-pointing.  However, by vetoing meaningful reform in her own backyard, she is turning a blind eye to fraud, identity theft and other crimes committed in Arizona by illegal immigrants. 

I sponsored Senate Bill 1511 -- “secure and verifiable identification” -- to establish a standard for identification used by state and local government as recommended by FBI testimony. The FBI testified to Congress about strong concerns with foreign-made IDs that could be used as breeder documents to obtain other trusted documents, such as a driver’s license in 14 states, or used as a photo ID to board an airplane under a false name, circumventing terrorist watch lists. Most of the FBI’s concerns centered on consular cards (cards that are not secure and verifiable issued by foreign consulates) in the United States.

The governor vetoed this bill, giving reasons that are inaccurate, unfounded and misleading. First, she claims that under this bill, passports would not be accepted or recognized by state or local government. The governor’s message said British travelers to Arizona would be prevented from using their passports. That is untrue. The bill clearly allows for ID to be permitted if it is authorized by treaty or federal law, which includes passports.

British travelers have nothing to fear from SB1511.  According to the United States Embassy, the United Kingdom is one of 27 countries whose citizens can enter the United States on business or in transit with a valid, individual machine-readable passport. SB 1511 would not change that, and it makes one wonder whether the governor actually read the bill, or if she was just grasping at straws to explain a veto?

Another reason offered by the governor for her veto is that Mexico’s Matricula Consular card is “already accepted by 32 other states, including hundreds of private businesses, including banks and utilities, across Arizona.” SB1511 would not apply to identification used by the private sector, just government. Why does the governor think Arizona should have the lowest security standards in the nation?

As for the other states who may allow the Matricula Consular cards, they are not located on the most porous section of border in the country. Nor do those other states rank highest in the nation for identity theft (a ranking that belongs to Maricopa County).

Unfortunately, at least three members of the notorious, murderous international street gang Mara Salvatrucha, known as MS-13, have made their way to Arizona and are currently under investigation for identity theft, according to the City of Phoenix Police Gang Unit supervisor. 

Recent headlines have proclaimed Arizona as a “Gateway for Violent Crime.” Arizona is being invaded by these murderous international gangs; isn’t it time to ask for documentation? Why are violent Central American gangs getting a free pass across our border? Aren’t we elected to secure our state against criminals guilty of murder, drug trafficking and identity theft? 

Members of Al Quaeda learned to fly at a municipal airport in my district in North Phoenix. Arizona should not be the proverbial ostrich with its head stuck in the sand during this invasion. This isn’t just a problem; it’s a crisis. We need to act now, or find new leadership that will.