HessForGovernor Press Release - Immigration and "The Wall"

Clearing Up Misconceptions on AZLP Candidate Barry Hess’ Position on “The Wall”

Press Release 09-29-06 For Immediate Release

In response to questions from voters on the campaign trail, Barry Hess today released the following statement.

“In the past several weeks, numerous voters have commented that they were told that I, as a Libertarian, am opposed to a wall on our southern border in any shape, matter or form. For the record, this is not true, and I reiterate my position:

Subject: “The Wall”

Misconception: That I am opposed to any and all walls on the southern border. Untrue.

What I do support is the following:

· With regards to public land (commonly mistakenly referred to as Government Land) - It is Physically impossible and Guaranteed devastating to the AZ economy, and ultimately unnecessary to build “The Wall”. I do support a wall where there is a demonstrated need for a barrier. This barrier may be anything from a virtual wall to a physical wall from minor to formidable based on the demonstrated need for such.

· With regards to private property – It is a basic tenet of private property ownership of the right to defend one’s property. I wholeheartedly support the right of private property owners to defend their property including their right to build a wall on their property.

What I do not support is “The Wall”, a 700 mile Berlin Wall-type monstrosity from state line to state line across the entire Arizona border. “I’m opposed to “The Wall”, not to walls in general.”

Any wall, whether virtual or physical, partial or complete, will only be effective as part of a comprehensive plan that prevents, deters, and punishes those that enter the country illegally. The sheer number of regulatory humps, along with the physical challenges of building “The Wall” predict a time-frame of at least 10 years and 7 billion dollars; implementation of the other necessary measures will be more timely, more affordable and more effective at securing our border, thus eliminating the need for “The Wall”.