Van Os Says No Border Wall Is Needed

In his latest press release, David Van Os, candidate for Texas Attorney General, talks some common sense about illegal immigration and border issues. He knows that building a fence will not solve the problem. It will just do economic and enviornmental damage to Texas. The only way to slow down illegal immigration is to go after the employers, who import and/or hire illegal workers so they can get away with paying substandard wages.

The Van Os statement has been reprinted below for your perusal.


"The Bush administration prosecuted less than ten (10) employers nationwide last year for violating laws in the employment of undocumented immigrants. As a loyal Bush Republican, Greg Abbott does absolutely nothing about corporate employers who violate these laws.

"Employers who pay substandard wages to attract undocumented immigrant workers harm everybody. (1) Those employers foster disrespect for the rule of law, (2) they undercut the wages and living standards of American workers, (3) they create unfair competition for law-abiding employers and workers, (4) they exploit the economic desperation of the undocumented immigrants, and (5) they place increasingly massive burdens on communities that are struggling to provide services.

"The Texas Attorney General can do something about it. Twenty years ago Attorney General Jim Mattox aggressively enforced our laws and assessed severe penalties against employers who broke labor laws to attract and exploit undocumented workers.

"But as a loyal Bush-Rove Republican, Greg Abbott does absolutely nothing about corporate employers who violate the law in the hiring and employment standards of undocumented immigrants.

"My loyalty is to the laws of Texas, not to political bosses.

"We don't need expensive walls that'll make us feel like we're outside a Berlin Wall. We need to enforce the laws we have.

"Corporate employers who violate our laws in the employment of undocumented immigrants need to know this: I'm going to throw the book at them."