| Retired Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem gave us a glimpse into his work at the border, recounting tragic stories that hit close to home. His message was clear: Border security isn’t just policy. Chief Clem’s perspective left the crowd asking, “What can we do to create lasting solutions?” No matter what state you live in, Washington’s failure to secure our border and reform our broken immigration system impacts you directly. Consider the story of a farmer in Yuma, AZ, who told us during a border trip that he frequently had to eradicate fields of crops because illegal immigrants trampled on them. This obviously hurts him, but it hurts you, too, because in the winter, most of our leafy greens come from Yuma! Meanwhile, Angel Merlos, strategic director for LIBRE Colorado, shared a moving personal story about his family’s path to U.S. citizenship. His mother faced countless challenges to become a legal citizen, paying high fees and enduring lengthy waits. This should remind us why immigration reform must prioritize and facilitate the process for those who seek to follow the rules. Doing so will have the added benefit of reducing pressure at the border. AFP’s Four Pillars of Border Security and Visa Reform lay out how our lawmakers can drive this positive change. They include: - Secure border and ports.
- Increase American competitiveness.
- Clear and predictable rules.
- Transparency, accountability, and due process.
Please take a moment to learn about these critical areas so we can push Washington to restore the rule of law and fair immigration, making our communities safer. | 
