Babeu questions invites to immigration meeting


by Jim Cross/KTAR (April 28th, 2011 @ 12:45pm)

Comments:21


PHOENIX -- Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, a leader in the fight against illegal immigration, has questioned why he and other Arizona officials were not invited to a White House meeting on immigration Thursday.

The White House said President Obama met with "a group of influential Hispanics about changing the nation's immigration system." The list included actresses Eva Longoria and Rosario Dawson.

"Why wasn't the governor invited?" Babeu asked. "Why aren't we sitting down at the table to represent truly the diverse opinion in America on this issue that's so important to our country as we move forward?"

Babeu said the president just wants an echo chamber to hear support for what he wants -- a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.

"We went through this before in '86 and it's failed," he said. "You can't give amnesty or some form of amnesty to illegals because all you do is reward that culture that has broken the law."

Babeu said the nation's gravest threat is an unsecured border "because it's so porous and just about anybody can come through."

He said it's time to get serious about changing that.

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