At his press conference today, President Obama was asked whether he supports boycotting the state of Arizona, a move threatened by several cities and organizations in protest of the state’s new immigration law.
“I don’t approve of the Arizona law. I think it’s the wrong approach,” he said.
“I’m president of the United States. I don’t endorse boycotts or not endorse boycotts. That’s something that private citizens can make a decision about,” he added.
Obama has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the law, which requires law enforcement officers to demand the immigration papers of those they have a “reasonable suspicion” are in the country illegally. Attorney General Eric Holder is looking into the legality of the measure, which goes into effect this summer.
In the press conference, Obama also said he would push Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform and urged Republicans to come on board.
“I told the Republican caucus when I met with them this week, ‘I don’t even need you to meet me halfway, meet me a quarter of the way,'” he said. “I’ll bring a majority of Democrats to a smart, sensible comprehensive immigration reform bill but I’m gonna have to have some help given the rules of the senate where a simple majority is not enough.”
