Former AG Alberto Gonzales on President's Immigration Policy: 'It's Important to Know Who's Here in a Post--9/11 World'
Former United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales sat down with Uma Pemmaraju to talk publicly for the first time about President Obama’s policy shift on immigration. While Gonzales believes the government needs to do something to help qualify immigrant children, he said he has a problem with the way the president is trying to accomplish that goal.
He said, “Substantively the problem I have is that it doesn’t deal with a more secure border, it doesn’t deal with requiring tougher workplace enforcement, it doesn’t deal with visa overstayers, it doesn’t deal with the millions of immigrants who came to this country illegally as adults.”
Gonzales said the decision was politically motivated being that it is an election season. He called the move a “temporary fix” and said the issue is “going to require combined wisdom of the White House and the leadership in Congress to find a solution.”
He agrees with Governor Romney that this kind of action may make it difficult to pass widespread immigration reform. “I believe strongly it’s important for this country, to know who’s in this country in a post--9/11 world and why they’re here.”
Gonzales said, “The best way to deal with this issue is in a comprehensive fashion that’s consistent with the rule of law.” He continued that the law would need to meet both national security and economic needs of the United States. “There are things that should be done in conjunction to reassure everyone that we are not only a compassionate nation in taking care of these kids, but we’re also a nation of laws and that we enforce our laws.”
