By Sarah Thomsen

Less than a month before the general election, immigration reform and border security are issues once again taking center stage.

Eighth Congressional District candidate John Gard rallied for votes Tuesday with another Congressional leader on immigration by his side.

Six months ago, thousands of people marched in rallies in Green Bay, Milwaukee, and around the country both in support of and opposition to Congressional proposals for immigration reform and a plan to erect a fence along the nation's border with Mexico.

Speaking at Performa, a De Pere company contracted by the government to design border patrol stations, Republican John Gard said immigration is one of the most important issues facing the country right now.

"And as I've always said, if this border isn't secure decisively, quickly, and there is a terrorist attack, or somebody came across that southern border, the government will over-reach and will do things that people will wish we hadn't done," said Gard.

Gard brought some power with him. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, a Menomonee Falls Republican, ed pass a House bill to strengthen border security and get funding for border security projects.

Sensenbrenner says employers could go a long way in keeping illegal immigrants from staying in the U.S. He wants "to give employers a way to verify an applicant for a job has a good Social Security number, and increase fines on those that employ illegal immigrants."

Gard also does not support amnesty, and says the government needs to follow a plan that secures the border first then concentrates on the illegal immigrants already here.

"If we follow just one, I think people will say, we'll just follow pieces of it," said Gard.

Less than a month before the general election, immigration reform and border security are issues once again taking center stage.

Eighth Congressional District candidate John Gard rallied for votes Tuesday with another Congressional leader on immigration by his side.

Six months ago, thousands of people marched in rallies in Green Bay, Milwaukee, and around the country both in support of and opposition to Congressional proposals for immigration reform and a plan to erect a fence along the nation's border with Mexico.

Speaking at Performa, a De Pere company contracted by the government to design border patrol stations, Republican John Gard said immigration is one of the most important issues facing the country right now.

"And as I've always said, if this border isn't secure decisively, quickly, and there is a terrorist attack, or somebody came across that southern border, the government will over-reach and will do things that people will wish we hadn't done," said Gard.

Gard brought some power with him. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, a Menomonee Falls Republican, ed pass a House bill to strengthen border security and get funding for border security projects.

Sensenbrenner says employers could go a long way in keeping illegal immigrants from staying in the U.S. He wants "to give employers a way to verify an applicant for a job has a good Social Security number, and increase fines on those that employ illegal immigrants."

Gard also does not support amnesty, and says the government needs to follow a plan that secures the border first then concentrates on the illegal immigrants already here.

"If we follow just one, I think people will say, we'll just follow pieces of it," said Gard.