Statement from Governor Brewer Regarding President Obama's Amnesty Plan

Statement

"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."

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