Former Gov. Jan Brewer endorses Donald Trump for president
The former Arizona governor who famously wagged her finger at President Barack Obama and who signed the state's controversial 2010 immigration law, on Saturday endorsed celebrity billionaire Donald Trump in the Republican presidential race.
"For years I pleaded with the federal government to do their job and secure our border," Brewer, who left office in early 2015, said in a written statement released Saturday by Trump's campaign. "Today, we can elect a President who will do just that -- Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump will secure our borders, defend our workers and protect our sovereignty. Mr. Trump will stand for our law enforcement, our police and our immigration officers. Mr. Trump will actually enforce the rule of law.
"As a Washington outsider, Mr. Trump gets it," Brewer added. "He will listen to the people and fight for the citizens of the United States."
Trump, the Republican front-runner who has won the GOP's New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries and Nevada caucuses, has made stopping unauthorized immigration a centerpiece of his campaign. His fiery rhetoric has included calling Mexican immigrants "rapists" and drug runners, and he has vowed to build a wall along the Southern border and force Mexico to pay for it.
Trump also has been endorsed by another controversial Arizona border hard-liner, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio's Sheriff's Office was found by a federal judge to have racially profiled Latinos during enforcement activities.
“I love the state of Arizona and have received incredible support throughout the state," Trump said in a written statement. "I am leading in all the polls and we have had amazing events with tremendous crowds. I am honored to receive this endorsement from Governor Brewer.”
Trump has announced a series of high-profile endorsements in the past 48 hours, including his former presidential rival Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor, even as some establishment Republicans are coalescing around Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in an effort to slow Trump's momentum.
Brewer's lengthy statement makes it clear Trump's tough stance on immigration played a key role in her decision to back him. The Supreme Court struck down some of Arizona's SB 1070, but allow part of it to go into effect.
"Arizona’s unsecured border is the gateway of illegal immigration into the United States and the politicians in Washington D.C. have continually failed to secure our border. As I’ve always said: A nation without borders is like a house without walls – it collapses," Brewer said.
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"As Arizona’s Governor, I witnessed too much heartache, loss and suffering caused by illegal immigration. I’ve seen communities destroyed by the drugs, gangs, drop houses and cartels. The cost of health care, education and incarceration for illegal immigrants places a crushing burden on taxpayers. Workers of all backgrounds are deprived of jobs and income from our open, bleeding border," she said.
Nowicki is The Arizona Republic's national political reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @dannowicki and on his official Facebook page.