Obama urges U.S. Republicans to cooperate in immigration reform
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U.S. President Barack Obama Friday urged Republican Senators to cooperate with Democrats to pass immigration reform in the Congress, noting failure to act on the federal level can open doors to "irresponsibility" by others.
"I would note that 11 current Republican Senators voted to pass immigration reform four years ago," Obama said in the White House, voicing his hope that "they will join with Democrats in doing so again" in the immigration reform his administration is to push forward.
He warned the failure to act at the federal level "will only open the door to irresponsibility by others," and scolded a recent immigration measure in Arizona, which he said "threatened to undermine basic notions of fairness."
The local legislature in Arizona, which borders the northern Mexico state of Sonora, has passed a law that forces police to investigate every report of illegal migration and gives citizens the right to sue police officers who do not investigate such reports. The controversial bill has been sent to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. It was criticized by civil rights groups.
Obama said he has instructed administration officials to monitor the situation and examine the civil rights and other implications of the legislation.
"If we continue to fail to act at a federal level, we will continue to see misguided efforts opening up around the country," he warned.
Obama has said he is to do everything in his power to forge a bipartisan consensus this year so that the United States can continue to move forward on comprehensive immigration reform.
With the influx of illegal immigrants, immigration reform has become a hot-button issue in U.S. politics. Former President George W. Bush's effort to revamp immigration policy foundered in Congress in 2007, and the issue has occupied headlines in recent national elections.
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