President Obama spoke out against a tough new Arizona immigration bill this morning, and said it was an example of why the federal government has to act on immigration reform.
“Our failure to act responsibly at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others,” Obama said. “That includes, for example the recent efforts in Arizona, which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans.”
Speaking at a White House naturalization ceremony for active duty service members, Obama said “I’ve instructed members of my administration to closely monitor the situation and to closely examine the civil rights and other implications of this legislation.”
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) has until tomorrow to decide whether to sign or veto a bill that would require police officers to question people about their immigration status if there was reason to believe they’re not here legally.
Many on the left — including Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) — have suggested that the bill is racist, and will lead to racial profiling.
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