Brewer meets with Obama, says she's encouraged by dialogue

PHOENIX - Arizona Governor Jan Brewer emerged from a high-profile meeting with President Obama Thursday, saying she's encouraged by promises of more troops and resources at the state's southern border.

The Governor met with the President in the Oval Office for about 30 minutes, with both sides agreeing their staff members will meet in about two weeks to iron out details for additional resources at the border.

"I'll be able to tell the people just exactly how many troops we're going to get, how many resources we're going to get and if we're going to get that fence built," Brewer said. "That's better than we have now."

Brewer said the President didn't promise specific numbers but did promise to address concerns about border security as part of a comprehensive package of immigration reform.

The President did not address questions about a possible court challenge to Arizona's immigration law, set to take effect in late July.

"This is a federal job," the President told CNN's Larry King later Thursday. "What we have to do is take on that federal responsibility by working with border states on border security. I've told Governor Brewer that we've already put more resources into border security than we ever have."

Administration officials who spoke to ABC15 said the decision remained in the hands of the Justice Department.

Brewer, meanwhile, made it clear the prospect of a court challenge to the state's immigration law is a separate issue.

"I already have five lawsuits," Brewer said, referring to other challenges already filed, testing the validity of the law.

Brewer said the President made it clear he's seeking a more comprehensive immigration reform package.

White House officials now say they are seeking a plan, "requiring those who come here illegally to pay a fine, pay back taxes, learn English, and get right with the law."

"Really what the president stressed with the governor today is that the way to fix this problem, in addition to the enforcement, is pass a law so we have an immigration system that works and he asked for her partnership in that," said Cecilia Munoz, the White House Chief of inter-governmental affairs.

But Brewer also made it clear she would not trade more troops and resources at the border for her support on immigration reform.

"I made it perfectly clear to him that I was not interested in any issue as far as comprehensive illegal immigration reform," the Governor said.

About 200 protesters gathered outside the White House as the meeting took place, with familiar slogans like "yes we can."

Protesters say the immigration law will test the resources of police departments and subject them to frivolous lawsuits.

"Americans want real solutions to the immigration problem and SB 1070 is the wrong solution to a serious problem," said Javier Marillo, a spokesman.

The Governor said she was aware of the protesters, but hadn't seen them as she entered the White House.