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SCOTTSDALE, AZ -- Mitt Romney pledged to reform the nation's immigration laws in his first year as president while criticizing the Supreme Court's immigration decision on Monday in broad terms.
Romney told donors in Arizona that he would have preferred that their state have more discretion in enforcing its immigration laws following a ruling by the high court throwing out much of Arizona's tough immigration law.
"Now you probably heard today there was a Supreme Court decision relating to immigration and given the failure of the immigration policy in this country, I would have preferred to see the Supreme Court give more latitude to the states not less," Romney told some 200 donors seated in a hotel ballroom for his remarks. "And there are states now under this decision have less authority, less latitude to enforce immigration laws."
Throughout the primary campaign, Romney defended the immigration law here, which called for local law enforcement to check immigration documents for anyone who they suspected may be in the country illegally (among other provisions), as the right course for a state to take when the federal government has failed to address immigration.
The court invalidated much of the law except for one of its most controversial prongs: the requirement that authorities check the immigration status of individuals whom they detain and suspect of being in the U.S. illegally.
Romney didn't address that provision directly, pivoting instead to accuse President Obama of a failure to lead on immigration and creating a "muddle" of the issue.
"The president promised in his campaign that in his first year he would take on immigration and solve our immigration challenges, put in place a long term program to care for those who want to come here legally to deal with illegal immigration, to deal with securing our borders," Romney said. "All these things he was going to in his first year he had a Democrat House and a Democrat Senate but he didn’t do it. Isn’t it time for the American people to ask him why?"
Romney has not remarked publicly on the Supreme Court case or immigration today, but in addressing the topic of reform with a group of donors here who collectively gave more than $2 million dollars to the campaign, Romney pledge to forgo stopgap measures and reform the U.S. immigration system within the first year of his administration.
"In my first year I will make sure we actually do take on immigration, we secure our border, we make sure that we grow legal immigration in a way that provides people here with skill and expertise that we want," Romney said. "This is an issue that has to be tackled."
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Romney will be the next President because people are tired of Obamas promises...thats all the man has done ..promised to close Gitmo in first year...3 years later he remodeling it...and with your tax money. LMAO
Obama came through for them today
I don't agree at all with any Washington immigration solution ever but this was a major victory for Obama today.
Have you even given one second to investigate why he was unable to close Gitmo. Of course not.
The Republicans wouldn't let him close Gitmo. Typical Republican BS. Block the closing of Gitmo and then complain that he didn't close Gitmo. Block immigration reform and then complain there is no immigration reform. Block jobs bills and then complain there are no jobs. Fire 100,000 teachers and then complain about education. Start two wars and then complain about the wars. Block the transportation bill and then complain about jobs and transportation. Take a surplus and turn it into trillions of dollars of deficit and then complain about the deficit. ad nasaeum
Mitt's running behind Obama and yelling in his ear
Mitt, for the better or worse, immigration policy is being established.
Mtt, you lose again
Have you ever wondered why all of the people standing behind the Governor of Arizona are White? Are there any Black, Brown, Red, Yellow, or Green Republicans in Arizona?
I want President Romney to put me in charge of his "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Law." It will look something like this:
1. No more "anchor babies." All children born to one or more illegal alien parents will be considered citizens of the illegal parents country of origin and as such will be deported with said parent(s).
2. All illegal aliens will be given one year to pack up and return to their country of origin without incurring any penalty, starting July 1, 2013.
3. Starting July 1, 2014, all illegal aliens will have a "bounty" equal to half the value of all of their possessions distributed 50/50 between the citizen that turns them in and the county in which they preside.
4. Anyone or business caught knowingly hiring or housing said aliens will be fined the equivalent of 1 year's income for the first offense. Second, third, etc. offenses will double, triple, etc. until the offender can no longer pay in which case the offender will serve one year in prison without the possibility of parole.
5. Members of the National Guard will spend one week of their annual duty either guarding our southern border or rounding up illegals in their state. After confirmation that the apprehended individual is here illegally they will be immediately repatriated to their country of origin.
6. Any government service (welfare, food stamps, schooling) or hospital services that the illegal has used will be billed to his/her country of origin.
7. Any country failing to reimburse the amount billed will have that amount deducted from any foreign that they receive up to 100%.
8. If the offending country does not reimburse within 3 years, all travel to said country will be prohibited to American Citizens. Additionally, all goods imported from that country will be barred from importation into the United States.
1. Unconstitutional
2. And if they don't?
3. Unconstitutional and unworkable
4. Unconstitutional
5. Guarding, yes. Rounding up, unconstitutional
6. And Mexico will gladly pay.
7. Including our help in suppressing the drug trade, etc.
8. Unworkable and unwise.
Really dumb.
Nice Chuck, I like!
Jamie R
We can debate whether my ideas are within the framework of the Constitution but there is really no need. President Romney just needs to take a page from the Obama playbook and do as he does, ignore it.
It sure is good to know what Mitt Romney thinks of this supreme court decision. I care a lot about what he has to say about things. It's very important to me. I hope he weighs in on all sorts of other important issues too. That would be great. Then we would know what to do. Hey MSNBC news editor person please cover more of what Mitt Romney has to say about things. I really care.
Based on recent policy changes and Supreme Court decisions the following scenario will play itself out on a regular basis in Arizona and elsewhere:
Officer: Excuse me sir, you were driving above the speed limit. Can I see your driver's license please?
Driver: No hablo ingles.
Officer: La licensia por favor? Green Card maybe?
Driver: No tengo licensia. Busco trabajo. I not from here.
Officer: Oh, in that case welcome, our president just made arrangements for you to apply for work in our country, regardless of your neglect of our laws, we will help you succeed in accomplishing the American Dream, while millions of our own are suffering the American Nightmare.
Get real. That won't happen, especially in Arizona.
You make it sound like only immigrants (legal or otherwise) do not respect our laws. Pretty shallow. Nice dialogue in your post, however.
I hope he weighs in on all sorts of other important issues too. That would be great. Then we would know what to do.
Don't hold your breath marge..
Romney will make a good president, background, experience, he'll make America proud again.
Vote Obama out!
Flipper flopper flapjack Romney corporate shill billionaire job killer elitist said what?
"Romney will make a good president" said __________________________.
fill in the blank
If this were Civil War era America, Mitt Romney would most certainly be fighting for the Confederates. His view is that states, no matter how bigoted their leadership, should be free to establish laws that support that bigotry. We are a NATION of laws, Mitt, not a fractured, hodge-podge of loose cannon states that can trample all over the rights of people if they choose to. What a moron.
romney does not respect the supreme court. a pres romney could create a constitutional crisis.
Oops, wrong place.
So Ramenie wants the states to each do their own temporary fixes?
And the south should figure out their own slavery laws?
I wish Romney had a policy ... just one?
Yeah, that's what America needs in the 21st Century, someone who refuses to take a stand on anything. I'm embarrassed for Republicans.
Before RobUS Romney makes such a major decision on imigration, he really should make sure his puppeteers give the approval. What a joke RobUS Romney is and so are the rest of the blind people that are thinking about voting for that LIAR. Vote out all republicans in november.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Seems as though Mr. Romney lacks understanding of US Constitutional law, much less the US Constitution as well. I guess he feels he should be crowned King of the United States of America based on his attitude for people who do not buy his line of chatter. Listen to him when he is speaking; he is jerky and not fluent when expressingv himself; the doubt of conficence he has in himself is evident. A man who lies and blatantly misrepresents the truth (fact) cannot be trusted, even i8f he were to surround himself with Karl Rov ians.
Romney amuses me. He spews stuff with which he has no knowledge of, basically lobbing grenades, e.g., sound bites that have little, if any basis in fact. Just because a politician like him says something, they think the public will eat it. Give us some credit media advisors. Dude, where is the beef? Have you ever cooked your own meal, or bought toilet paper at the local supermarket. Unlikely.
BO's gotta go in 2012!
What Supreme court?? You can stop and check if an illegal is illegal but if they are illegal you can't arrest them cause it's illegal? What IDIOTS! Almost as bad as our Leader. Throw them all out come November if you have a brain.
Why don't illegals who have been here seven years just apply
for citizenship? Why would anybody who can live here, tax free,
work here, tax free, have their children in an American hospital,
for free, collect food stamps, for free, have their children
educated, for free; want to become an American citizen?
Arizona, shouldn't even bother with immigration. You have to
have a social security number to file a W4 and pay taxes. If
illegals do file a W4 and pay taxes, then they are
using someone else's S.S. number, and that is identity theft,
a crime. If they ain't paying taxes, that makes them guilty of
tax evasion, another crime. Identity theft or tax evasion, if
they are working and undocumented, they are guilty of one or
the other.
Of course illegals want to come here, they are living the American
dream, all the benefits of citizenship with none of the costs, just
like Oprah. Just think of all those fine brick houses of Mexican
retirees lining the highway South of the border between Monterrey,
Ca and Tijuana Mx, between Laredo, Tx and Guadalajara, Mx, built with
untaxed American dollars, just for clipping George Clooney's lawn.
With all those illegal voters, Obama doesn't have to campaign, here.
Strong immigration enforcement laws enacted by Arizona and other states clearly reflect the overwhelming demand of the American people for much stronger immigration CONTROL.
Whether or not those state laws are valid under the federal constitution from the point of view of the power divide between federal and state governments, Americans clearly want more immigration CONTROL, and will vote for more immigration CONTROL whenever given a chance.
At every level of government, whether federal or state, Americans will vote for the candidates who stand loud and clear, front and center, in favor of more Immigration CONTROL.
Contrary to the will of the American people, Obama and Reid and most other Democrat politicians want to weaken immigration control. They will root around for every possible technical legislative dodge available in order to thwart the will of the American people.
Romney and most Republicans (except possibly their pro-cheap-labor business wing) support more immigration CONTROL.
Americans will take that into account in November -- especially in voting to choose a President and members of Congress.
Romney believes in States' Rights??
I wonder, does he also disagree with the fact that the 'Conservative' Supremes ruled states have no constitutional rights to make their own laws in regard to limiting corporate donations to politicians in their state?
I do not care what your political party is, the truth is, we have a real serious problem in the United States of America with this illegal alien problem.
It is a real problem and our country will suffer real problems because of it, it is time to find a solution not a quick fix but a real solution.
Milkel….
All the right wings here making noise. You are in same boat as the rest of us & yet you vote republican. What a laugh. Voting against your best interest.
So called Real America, how is that working out for you. You are middle income just like me or maybe poor. You don't get it. Why should we pay more….Everyone needs to pay their fair share for the economy to recover. Middleclass taxes use to carry the entire Country but not anymore; due to "the rich getting richer practice" middleclass decreased, most are now poor, can't carry the Country's burden anymore by themselves while the billionaires become multi-billionaires. They don't want the economy to recover. They all signed pledge never to raise taxes for the wealthiest people. Because if the economy recovers it will be good for the Country & for Obama & they can't have that, it will mean their plan to cut Medicare/Medicaid/SS failed. Write to your representative to end oil subsidy, farm subsidy, end Bush tax cut for the wealthy, & never talk about Medicare/Medicaid/SS again. They are not the problem. Talking about them by the media is a strategic distraction the GOP uses on the media & the public to avoid ending the Bush tax cut & it works. The media should move the camera/talk from Medicare/SS/education grant to Bush tax cut & subsidies.
When family want to save money (budget)
You don't hand out part of your paycheck/income to your cousin named Oilcompanysubcity
You don't hand out another part of your paycheck to your cousin's friend named farmsubcity
You don't hand out another part of your paycheck to all your wealthy friends mostly named Bushtaxcuts
After you hand out all your income/revenue then you end you kid's education(edu grant), stop mom's medical care (Medicare), & throw grandparents out of the house, simply make them homeless, with no money, no food (SS).
How is this budgeting & people paying their fair share? This is our chance to fight for what we believe in & yes, we may have to do it every two years because they will not stop handing our money to the rich.
Most reps in congress signed a pledge with lobbyist 'Grover Norquist' never to raise taxes on the rich. How is that paying their fair share? The income gap between working middle class & the rich is now the highest in the history of this country, 400% & still raising. How much higher does GOP want? How is that good for America? How can we balance the budget if only middle class are paying tax? Fed Gov doesn't take in enough revenue. Cutting programs is not the answer & it will make things worse not better. Conduct your research before you vote. Why give your vote to someone who already signed away his power to lobbyist/cooperate interest. Why waste our votes on a person who already gave all the power of his office to someone else. How will this person speak for you? They are being paid double for doing nothing. They collect our paycheck & another paycheck from lobbyist. They think they have died & gone to heaven.
Romney is still making money from Bain today. Still shipping jobs overseas as we speak, google it, while lying to us. He made $13million in 2010 & 2011 alone, in addition to one $billion coming from his 33 billionaires.
It's just another case of the federal government sticking their noses where they don't belong. First they eliminate states rights and next they will be mandating health insurance for everyone. It won't be long and they will be telling you how to wipe and what paper you should be wiping on, which if they keep printing our money it will probably be with the US dollar. Wouldn't our founding fathers be so proud of us.