http://espanol.news.yahoo.com/s/0405201 ... &printer=1

The governor of New Jersey says he does not plan following in the footsteps of Governor of Arizona

May 4, 2010, 1:58 PM


New York, May 4 (EFE) .- The Republican governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, said he does not plan following the footsteps of his counterpart in Arizona, Jan Brewer, as he believes that the immigration issue will matter for the federal government.

For Christie, the states can not themselves take steps to solve the problem of illegal immigration, said the newspaper report today on its website Hispano.

"This is an issue that falls on the shoulders of Barack Obama presidenet, the federal government," the governor said.

On April 23 Governor Jan Brewer signed the state law SB1070, the first in the United States to criminalize the presence of undocumented immigrants.

It also provides functions of immigration officers and police departments to become a crime in the streets to seek employment as day laborers do, among other provisions.

"Firstly I do not want anyone to be discriminated against in New Jersey, second this is a federal issue that should not be resolved by the states," said the Governor, who recalled that New Jersey is a diverse state with a large variety of immigrants.

"I hope people continue to feel welcome in the state," he said while warning that "people should follow the law" when they migrate to the U.S..