Obama: Immigration Policy Patchwork Is Unacceptable (VIDEO)

AP/Huffington Post - President Barack Obama says he agrees that more control must be exerted over illegal immigration, but he won't accept "a patchwork of 50 different states" acting on their own.

Obama tells CBS he believes immigration control advocates "are absolutely correct." But he also says "what we can't do is demagogue the issue." The president tells anchor Harry Smith he wants to "work with Arizona," while insisting that national immigration policy cannot be left to "anybody who wants to make a name for themselves."

Arizona has appealed a federal judge's ruling striking down key provisions of its law reining in illegal immigration. A federal appeals court has decided not to immediately get into the case, leaving the state to consider other steps it might take in the meantime.

WATCH:

Comments

[AZreb]

08:40 AM on 08/04/2010

August 1 - the date National Guard troops were supposed to hit the border to help Border Patrol and local law enforcement.

August 1 - the day it didn't happen! Promises, promises - and excuses, excuses.

The feds can send National Guard troops from AZ to Afghanistan to protect "contractors" but can't send troops to protect our border.

[AZreb]

08:18 AM on 08/04/2010

Missouri has just passed a law nullifying the FEDERAL law on health care. Will the feds sue Missouri?

[AZreb]

09:07 AM on 08/03/2010

The federal government's reluctance to enforce our immigration laws is unacceptable. The federal government's priority of "foreign affairs" (pandering to Mexico and Calderon) is unacceptable.

When "foreign affairs" takes precedence over the laws of our country and the safety of our people and security of our border, there is something wrong with our federal government.

[Hotincal38]

09:21 PM on 08/04/2010

Exactly AZ, and I call for anyone of them not enforcing the removal of all illegals immediately, all aid funds and housing stopped immediately.
Our soldiers brought home to keep our country safe instead of everyone elses. Anyone not adhereing, following the laws of illegals in the USA, we call for immediate impeachment and arrest.
I would be arrestted for driving with a beer in my hand right? Or are we a completely lawless country now?

[LRanger2]

01:50 AM on 08/03/2010

Adding 13 million lawbreakers into our government entitlement populace is a lame solution whether you choose to call it "comprehensive immigration reform" or a sham by any other name.

Before acting as though US federal immigration laws were ineffective, why not try enforcing them?

[new beginning]

07:58 AM on 08/03/2010

What a novel concept!

[Beau2]

08:01 AM on 08/03/2010

It depends upon your definition of "effective."

If your goal is to grow more democrat voters, then our present laws are ineffective. And, Obambi has very little interest is enforcing them.

[George Hanshaw]

12:23 AM on 08/03/2010

Then he probably needs to get off his ass and actually make a pretense of enforcing existing law. That's what the executive branch of government is supposed to do.

[Scentedflower]

11:14 PM on 08/02/2010

It all started with fear from Repubs that the immigrants might vote for the Dems.

[Henry Coe]

10:48 PM on 08/02/2010

This is the wrong video for this article

[new beginning]

10:46 PM on 08/02/2010

Just close the border - that would create a climate where the rest of the country can accept talk about amnesty or other initiatives.

[spytheweb]

07:17 PM on 08/02/2010

How about sanctuary cities?

[WowJones]

09:54 PM on 08/02/2010

They aren't illegal

[George Hanshaw]

12:25 AM on 08/03/2010

They are if the federal governments claim to primacy in the immigration area is correct. You can't tell Az they can't legislate on immigration issues and the let San Francisco do it.

[Hotincal38]

09:32 PM on 08/04/2010

Amnesty nor Sanctuary cities are acceptable. We want them all OUT and gone to their own country and off our aid, our free housing and food, and healthcare. That is why the USA is soon to be a 3rd world country, we are broke from the illegals draining our resources for so long.

[Ohioliberal]

06:48 PM on 08/02/2010

With the economy sputtering and the middle class scared stiff due to uncertainty about jobs and lack of security, there is no appetite for US citizens to consider adding to their burden of 12 million being granted amnesty and rewarded for thumbing their noses at our laws - There simply is no appetite. If the economy was perking along perhaps but not now - timing is everything!

[AnythingBut]

09:49 PM on 08/02/2010

There's a definite sound of flip flopping going on here. Amnesty should be contingent with current economies? Whatever happened to "law and order liberal?" Lawful immigration is defined by lawfulness!

Failing to acknowledge statistics pointing to the ever-increasing number of deported illegals borders on deception! The article states nothing about amnesty--that's a different thread. Expired student, worker and other visas figure into the more recent estimates of 10.5 million illegals. If nothing else, please stay current.

[Ohioliberal]

10:09 PM on 08/02/2010

No, your statements make no sense, and you pick and choose your facts that may not have any relation to your statements. How long have you belonged to Code Pink?

[new beginning]

10:48 PM on 08/02/2010

Continuing to deport illegals is pointless as long as we have an open border. They just walk back. Again. And again. And again...

[Percival Wellingcourt]

05:10 PM on 08/02/2010

This is another typical Obama statement: "I agree with X, but don't agree with X."
The real question is what is he doing about the problem, and the answer is "nothing". Once the Mexican drug wars start spilling over even more into the United States, THEN perhaps the government will realize that something must be done, and quickly.
The United States should either kick people out, or if they wish to continue exploiting them as disenfranchised slave labor, provide them with decent legal rights so they don't have to sneak around like rats and cockroaches.
It is bad karma to treat people like this, and yet exploit their labor. This entire problem could be solved with simple documentation and a worker visa program. Germany has been doing it for years with the Turks. Why can't the US get its act together?

[Hotincal38]

09:49 PM on 08/04/2010

Exactly Percival, he does nothing. Not a darn thing in all this time but talk.
However, they need to be kicked out, our USA Cannot even afford to care for our own people.
We have been taking care of these illegals for so many years, giving them free housing, aid, medical care, food stams(cards) we are destitute.
We have so many homeless, hungry, unemployed, sick, mental and addictions, but we continue to close businesses, hospitals, mental care and abuse housing. We do not have much left in this country to take care of our own peoples needs.
There is no amnesty, no sanctuary cities, they need to be gone, they are ILLEGAL

[AyeChart]

04:51 PM on 08/02/2010

Unacceptable patchwork? Yeah! Get after those sanctuary cities! We can't have a bunch fo cities ignoring the federal law!

Oh, I forgot. The federal government ignores the federal law! I guess it's OK...

[Roguewolf]

03:53 PM on 08/02/2010

How can you believe anything he says, he said he would have immigration reform done in his first year in office, He doesn't need a patchwork of laws if the feds would enforce the ones on the books, there is a federal law against employers hiring illegals-enforce it, there is a federal law against sanctuary cities-enforce it, there is a federal law against illegal immigrants-enforce it.

[AnythingBut]

09:59 PM on 08/02/2010

I seem to recall a near cataclysmic economic meltdown in his first year that no crystal ball forecasted. If there's an EMERGENCY of major consequence, doesn't that warrant prioritization?

It takes time to fix complex federal shortcomings and timelines are not resolved in 24/7 news cycles. Why is there is burgeoning national mindset that demands resolving problems in a nano second?

[new beginning]

10:51 PM on 08/02/2010

Despite popular opinion here on HP, he hasn't actually solved anything - and has shown an alarming inability to make rational decisions.

[Hotincal38]

09:56 PM on 08/04/2010

Another Question I forgot in my response to Rogue is............how can Obama and Mrs Clinton sit back knowing these babies are being born one after another, that they sell their 12,13+ daughters to other illegal men to make more babies. Some even sell their daughters to traders who prostitute them in illegal camps. How can they condone all this???? Its all illegal!!!
Obama and Mrs Clinton condone it, they support it, they aid and abet illegals and their illegal activities, including child porno and prostitution, rape, selling of a human being for the reason of sexual gratification of men in Illegals camps.

[wimisy]

02:46 PM on 08/02/2010

If they don't want policy that is patchwork then why aren't they going after the so called "sanctuary" states that openly break the federal laws?? Seems pretty one sided to me

[DTree]

02:39 PM on 08/02/2010

{{national immigration policy cannot be left to "anybody who wants to make a name for themselves."}}

That's a jab at AZ governor Brewer, who signed the controversial law as a way to bump up her profile. The former lieutenant governor didn't stand a chance at re-election before signing what she knew was an unconstitutional law.

As for the critics who make immigration an issue about Obama: he has increased funding for border security, sent troops to the border, and has increased deportations more than any president before him. He and others such as republicans Graham and McCain have been calling for comprehensive immigration reform for a long time - when will people on the other side of the issue agree to sit down at the table and negotiate a compromise?

[aofh]

04:16 PM on 08/02/2010

Immigration is a hot button issue. It's primary purpose is to rile people up. Comprehensive reform threatens to take the steam out of the issue meaning that people like Brewer would have to address real problems.

[new beginning]

10:53 PM on 08/02/2010

Actually, it is pretty simple. He needs to close the border and enforce current laws. How can anyone be impressed if he increases deportations, yet STILL has an open border?

[Hotincal38]

09:59 PM on 08/04/2010

Exactly and does not allow border patrol, customs and INS agents go into well known areas of illegals and pick them up like we used to. Why isnt that being done? What are our men doing? Sitting behind desks waiting and praying for someone to tell them they can go and do their jobs?