Rep. Miller Blasts Los Angeles for Arizona Boycott

Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) is blasting the Los Angeles City Council after voting yesterday to officially cut off business with the state of Arizona. In a written statement, Rep. Miller, who represents parts of Los Angeles and its neighboring counties, said the boycott hurts American citizens and legal immigrants.

In a press release issued by Rep. Miller’s office, the Congressman said:

The decision made by the Los Angeles City Council to boycott the state of Arizona is an insult to American citizens and legal immigrants. The boycott could crush important industries that are helping America’s economy recover. This shortsighted move by the City Council could stop airline contracts at LAX, cancel over $25 million in Clean Truck Program contracts, and cancel important forensics and law enforcement tools. Clearly, the City Council is favoring the rights of illegal immigrants over the rights of American businesses and citizens. This boycott undermines the rule of law and will further communicate to illegal immigrants that they can come live, work, and soak up taxpayer-funded resources in California.

Currently, 15 million Americans are unemployed while an estimated 8 million illegal immigrants are employed. At the same rate, drug-related violence has intensified along the Southwest border. Because the federal government has failed to address these ongoing issues, the state of Arizona has a duty and a right to protect its citizens from these ongoing and escalating issues.