Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen Explains Why She Supports SB 1070, The Border State’s Tough New Immigration Law-Commentary!
Summary of eRumor:
This is a forwarded email with a letter from Arizona State Senator Sylvia explaining why she voted for the tough new Arizona Immigration Bill.
The Truth:
A spokesperson for Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen told TruthOrFiction.com that this commentary was written by Allen. The statement was posted on the Tucson Citizen Web Site, a local bog.
On April 23, 2010 Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law Senate Bill 1070 or the “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act” after the State Legislature voted its passage. This measure will enforce tougher laws as a solution to the problems caused by illegal immigration in the border state. Click to see the text of the bill.
Senator Allen cited a recent unsolved murder of a 58-year-old Douglas area rancher, Rob Krentz, The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office told reporters that the rancher was killed Saturday, March 27, 2010, while working on his ranch about 30 miles northeast of Douglas and that Sheriff investigators tracked footprints of a lone gunman 20 miles to the Mexican border.
According to May 4, 2010 Sierra Vista Herald article, the Associated press mistakenly reported a Mexican National as a suspect in the murder investigation but the the statement from the sheriff’s office said “that they have ‘no suspect information regarding nationality or gender.’” The article also said, “The previous day, Krentz’s brother contacted Border Patrol agents regarding a group of drug smugglers on the ranch, resulting in the arrest of eight people and the seizure of more than 250 pounds of marijuana.”
The violent murder of the Arizona Rancher also sparked a response from former Arizona Governor and Department of Homeland Security Head, Janet Napolitano. According to an April 21, 2010 Douglas Dispatch article, The DHS dispatched “100 additional Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement agencies in the San Bernardino Valley near where Krentz was shot. She also deployed Customs and Border Protection helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.” Click for article.
Allen’s statement drew criticism from fellow Arizona Sate Senator Kyrsten Sinema who posted a rebuttal on the Tucson Citizen Web Site.
updated 05/07/10