Jan Brewer: Most Illegals Running Drugs

While "a lot" of illegals hopping over Mexico's border into Arizona are looking for work, most are running drugs for cartels, says Gov. Jan Brewer in comments yesterday that elicited a chorus of critics who slammed her for everything from political posturing to racism. "I believe today, that the majority of the illegal trespassers are under the control of organized drug cartels and they are bringing drugs in," Brewer said.

Brewer's office later backpedaled, saying most human smuggling is run by drug rings, which "are by definition smuggling drugs." Malarkey, one Mexican senator tells the AP: "Traditionally, migrants have been needy, humble people who in good faith go looking for a way to better the lives of their families." Border Patrol acknowledged some illegals are carrying drugs, but that most "drug smuggling is done by people who intend to do that. That's their livelihood." AG Terry Goddard, Brewer's presumptive Democratic opponent, said Brewer "does not understand the difference between illegal immigration and the organized criminals who are members of the violent drug cartels who pose a very a real danger." (More Jan Brewer stories.)