Monday, June 18, 2012

Arizona Officials react to Obama's immigration announcement - MyFoxPhoenix.com

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The following is a collection of statements released by U.S. and Arizona officials on President Obama's immigration announcement (in no particular order):

"While the Obama Administration has failed to secure the southern border, our Propagandist-in-Chief has announced his cynical election year backdoor-amnesty program. The incompetence of this administration in dealing with our porous southern border is evidenced by the latest U.S. Customs and Border Patrol memo, which outlines a policy of catching, and releasing illegal immigrants that the administration arbitrarily deems 'low priority'. This comes as Northern Mexico is in chaos, the upcoming Mexican Presidential election could dramatically alter our security arrangements with Mexico and the flow of drugs continues unabated. The American people have stated time and again that they want a secure southern border first and foremost. It's time for the President to listen to them and secure our border. No more gun-walking; no more selective enforcement; no more sideshows. Just secure the border. The President needs to make decisions based on what is best for the country, not what is best for his campaign." U.S. Congressman Ben Quayle (R-AZ)

"Nearly one year ago, President Obama spoke against the idea of sidestepping Congress in order to impose immigration reform. 'That's not how our system works,' he said at the time. 'That's not how our democracy functions. That's not how our Constitution is written.' Well, now that the presidential election is less than five months away, the President has changed his tune. With his announcement today, the Obama administration bypassed Congress in order to unilaterally grant amnesty to nearly 1 million people living in this country illegally. This is an outrage. It doesn't take a cynic to recognize this action for what it is: blatant political pandering by a president desperate to shore up his political base. Likewise, it's no coincidence all of this comes on the eve of a long-awaited decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding Arizona's ability to assist with the enforcement of immigration law via SB 1070. The American people are smarter than this. I've been clear that our nation's immigration system is as broken as our borders. Unfortunately, today's piecemeal pronouncement is a dangerous distraction from both problems. I urge the President to finish Job One: Securing the border. Then - and only then - should the President pursue a solution for our immigration system by working with our elected members of Congress." Governor Jan Brewer

"Just when the American public is starting to think President Obama cannot go any further with his unconstitutional executive overreach-he reaches a new low. Obama has turned the Presidency into a monarchy. Only Congress is constitutionally authorized to change federal immigration law. The president's directive is unconstitutional. Obama, his Cabinet, and his czars have shown from day one they believe they are above the law. They are not. The president cannot decree what laws will be enforced and what will be ignored. The constitution has checks and balances to prevent actions like these and the American people will not allow our Constitution to be ignored. I was elected to defend the constitution and will do so by fighting against this political power grab." U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ)

"Immigration reform is an important and complex issue that deserves a debate among the American people and in Congress. Today's announcement by President Obama is a politically-motivated power grab that does nothing to further the debate but instead adds additional confusion and uncertainty to our broken immigration system. Further, I find it interesting that after promising to enact comprehensive reform in the first year of his Presidency, the President chose to make this announcement in the middle of his heated re-election campaign. Rather than unilaterally deciding for the American people what they want and how they believe this problem should be addressed, I encourage the President and his Administration to finally reach out to Congress and propose legislation on this important issue." U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ)

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