You may have heard that the Obama Administration and some in Congress have announced calls for immigration reform.  Any careful review of these new proposals for reform will reveal that their primary objective is to grant amnesty or so called pathways to citizenship.  Unfortunately this is more of the same old rhetoric that fails to make the tough choices and necessary steps to improve our immigration system and enforce our immigration laws.

Immigration reform does not mean granting legal status to those who are in the U.S. illegally.  As a grandson of legal immigrants, I have been and remain a strong supporter of legal immigration.  However, even with these latest calls for reform, be assured that I oppose any attempts to give legal status or grant blanket amnesty to those who have entered our country illegally.  Granting amnesty in any manner which would reward those who enter the country illegally is not an acceptable option in any reform measure that would receive my vote or support.

Unfortunately, the Obama Administration has, in the course of its 18 months in power, taken steps to undermine our national immigration laws.  The latest Federal action against the State of Arizona’s decision to protect their citizens and enforce Federal immigration law is a blatant example of that misdirected policy.  The Administration’s suit against Arizona argues that it is solely the Federal Government’s responsibility to enforce immigration law.  In fact, it is the failure of the Federal Government to secure the border and protect American citizens that has led to Arizona to believe it necessary for state action.  Any sovereign state should be able to protect the security of its citizens and enforce Federal law if necessary.    

Since regaining control of both Houses of Congress in 2007, the new Majority has failed to properly support the Federal Agencies in charge of enforcing our Federal immigration laws, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The current leadership in the White House and Congress look to continue trying to fix the broken immigration system with empty rhetoric and misguided actions.  The Federal Government has left the states with unstable borders, mounting violence and limited resources to fight illegal immigration, while at the same time handicapping their ability to enforce laws.

I support Florida’s decision to join with eight other states in signing a legal Amicus Brief in support of Arizona’s position.  We must allow state law enforcement to protect their residents from illegal activity and violence, especially if the Federal Government is either incapable or unwilling to act to responsibly meet the basic security the needs of its citizens.  The Arizona law responds specifically to that state’s ability to address security when the Federal Government has in fact failed to enforce its own laws. 

Finally, let me state clearly that President Barack Obama’s proposal that illegal immigrants should be provided a path to citizenship—or amnesty as most would call it—is not an acceptable option.  On July 1st in a speech at American University the President said, “We can create a pathway for legal status that is fair, reflective of our values, and works.”  Please know that I continue to believe that granting legal status or granting benefits to those who entered America illegally is not acceptable in any manner.

Unfortunately the Administration and some in Congress continue to ignore the majority of the American people who believe the first immigration priority must be to secure our borders and eliminate special benefits for those here illegally.  Any immigration reform measures must focus on strengthening immigration enforcement and border protection.