It is a compelling public interest of this state to discourage illegal immigration. As governor and attorney general, Mike Beebe has done little or nothing to deal with the problem. He has repeatedly taken the position that it is not the state’s business. He says it is a problem for federal authorities and has openly discouraged collaboration with federal authorities. Because he has provided no leadership, Arkansas has fallen behind other states which have addressed the problem, including most recently Arizona. I support their efforts to protect their citizens. I intend to do something about this problem when I am elected governor. Here are two steps I will take on Day One:

1. I will direct all agencies within this state to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities and take maximum advantage of already established federal programs designed to control illegal immigration.  For instance, Rogers and Benton County and Springdale and Washington County have implemented the 287g program administered by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).  I commend Pulaski County for initiating the Secure Communities program in collaboration with ICE. In addition, Arkansas needs to take full advantage of the ICE ACCESS program which is designed to assess local needs and draft appropriate plans of action based on the assessments.
2. I will order a top to bottom review of all state laws, regulations, policies and practices concerning illegal immigrants to insure that our laws and practices are comprehensive and up-to-date.  Such revisions will include, but not be limited to:
   1. Laws and policies to insure that no illegal immigrant receives public benefits except in certain justifiable emergency situations.  
   2. Laws and policies to insure that no illegal immigrant receives scholarships, grants, in-state tuition, or other financial aid for postsecondary education.
   3. Comprehensive regulation of the issuance of identification documents to include the creation of a Fraudulent Documents Identification Unit within the Arkansas State Police to investigate and apprehend those who participate in the sale or distribution of fraudulent documents used for identification purposes, focusing especially on documents created and prepared for illegal immigrants.
   4. Make it unlawful for a person to harbor or transport illegal immigrants in reckless disregard for the fact that the alien is an illegal immigrant.
   5. Make it a discriminatory practice to fire an employee while retaining an employee when it is known that the retained employee is an illegal immigrant.
   6. Requiring a reasonable effort to determine the citizenship status of a person charged with a felony or DWI.