For Immediate Release

PEARCE STATEMENT ON MURDER OF ARIZONA RANCHER

HOBBS, NM - Former Congressman Steve Pearce today released the following statement regarding the murder of rancher Robert Krentz near the Arizona-Mexico border.

"The senseless murder of Robert Krentz on his ranch in Southern Arizona is further proof that the drug violence in Mexico is escalating. Since Saturday, I have heard from New Mexicans in border towns who are increasingly worried to speak publicly or alert Border Patrol to drug smugglers crossing the border out of fear of retaliation.

"We must increase the number of Border Patrol agents on the Mexico border and deploy the National Guard. We also must make sure they have the ability to do their jobs.

"The ability to secure the border will be greatly hindered by the Wilderness Bill, authored by New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman and supported by Congressman Teague. It would essentially move the Mexico border north to Interstate-10. Designating border areas as protected wilderness will prohibit border agents from patrolling the area and would make the area incredibly dangerous.

"Former Border Patrol agents wrote to Senator Bingaman earlier this year advising him that his bill is dangerous to the security of our country, but the Wilderness Bill has still moved forward. I hope that this tragic death will give Senator Bingaman and Congressman Teague pause in pushing the legislation forward.

"Attention should be focused solely on stopping the crime from spilling across the border."

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