Thread: Napolitano has 'deep concerns' over immigration law

Napolitano has 'deep concerns' over immigration law
By the CNN Wire Staff
April 27, 2010 12:16 p.m. EDT

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
Homeland Security secretary says Justice Department reviewing measure
Former Arizona governor says she fears siphoning of resources
Law requires immigrants to carry their papers at all times
Washington (CNN) -- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday that she has "deep concerns" with a new Arizona law designed to crack down on illegal immigration.

Napolitano, who noted that the Justice Department is reviewing the measure, said she fears that it would siphon away resources that would otherwise be used to pursue individuals who commit major crimes while in the country illegally.

"I think these kinds of laws are not value-added to law enforcement," she the Senate Judiciary Committee. "There's a reason most law enforcement groups ... oppose them."

They put an "undue barrier" between victims of crime and law enforcement officials, she said.

Napolitano, who served as Arizona's governor before joining President Obama's Cabinet, refused to offer an opinion on the constitutionality of the law.

The new law requires Arizona police to determine whether people are in the United States legally if there is a reason to suspect they aren't. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, signed the controversial legislation into law Friday. Supporters say it is needed to control illegal immigration.

The law, scheduled to go into effect 90 days after the close of the state's legislative session, would require immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times. Currently, officers can check someone's immigration status only if that person is suspected in another crime.

Critics say the law could foster racial profiling and prompt businesses, conventions and tourists to stay away from the state.

The bill has prompted rallies by opponents and supporters, and some prominent politicians in Washington and Arizona have criticized the measure. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, a Democrat, has said he'll file a lawsuit to block the law.

Last week, Obama called the legislation "misguided" and said the federal government must act on the immigration issue.

"Our failure to act responsible at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others. That includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe," he said.

Napolitano told ABC News on Monday that the measure is "a misguided law. It's not a good law."

She said other states now will feel compelled to act in the wake of the federal government's failure to pass a comprehensive immigration reform plan.

"You will have this patchwork of laws where we need a federal immigration system that meets our security needs, that recognizes where we need to go in this 21st century and gives us a better framework on which to stand," she said.

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, called the situation along the country's southern border "a serious threat to law-abiding people" that has "got to be confronted in a very serious way."

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/27/ ... tml?hpt=T2

Oh yeah, she is "deeply concerned" their future voting base will vanish!! Ha ha ha.

Napolitano is nothing but subterfuge. She has done nothing except sabotage efforts to secure our border by diverting Border Security Assets to completely unnecessary places, like our Northern Border. Hey Napolitano, I dont see massive waves of Canadian Illegal Aliens invading our country...idiot.

Napolitano is just a traitor

She said other states now will feel compelled to act in the wake of the federal government's failure to pass a comprehensive immigration reform plan.

She has it backwards. Arizona is only following the federal laws on the books. How about trying to enforce those laws? We don't need 'comprehensive immigration reform.'

NAPOLITANO: ARIZONA IS DOING THE RIGHT THING. WE HAVE TO DEPORT ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS.

AZ is doing the job Washington won't do.

Instead of doing her job securing our air, land and sea borders this absolutely worthless wench is campaigning for open borders and amnesty (she is Obama's point person on this). Obama is cutting the number of border patrol personnel, other border physical security measures and Napolitano gut interior enforcement. Wait until amnesty for 20 million illegally here who will sponsor millions of additional immediate and extended family members through chain migration (the proposed bill significantly loosens rules on this) and with wide open borders allowing thousands to illegally enter the country every week, there will be endless illegal immigration and subsequent endless amnesties. Now tell me again this administration is so concerned about rising deficits, the debt, unemployment and skyrocketing health care costs....my ass they are......

She said other states now will feel compelled to act in the wake of the federal government's failure to pass a comprehensive immigration reform plan.

Can this woman really be this ignorant? Immigration reform does not have anything to do with securing our border and enforcing our laws. They are trying to hoodwink the people into believing that you can't do one without the other. Fortunately, the American people are not that stupid.