Election tactic? Arizona officials weigh in on Obama immigration change

After the announcement of President Obama’s decision regarding young immigrant deportation, some Arizona lawmakers are speaking out both in favor and against the new terms.  

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu
With a wave of their hand, Janet Napolitano and President Obama make what was illegal yesterday legal today. They can't pass their dream act, so they change enforcement policy, which undermines the rule of law. The timing is more than suspect and appears to be an election tactic.

Former Congressman Matt Salmon
Instead of heeding the calls from our leaders in Arizona and other border states to work with Congress on securing our national borders immediately, (Obama) has chosen to institute another policy designed to aid his faltering re-election campaign. Instead of working with Congress on meaningful reform, he has chosen to go around it…

This administration has failed to fulfill its constitutional role of securing our borders and enforcing our laws…True immigration reform can never happen until our federal government secures our borders first, and I will lead this fight when I return to Congress.

Senator John McCain
Today's announcement by President Obama is a politically-motivated power grab that does nothing to further the debate but instead adds additional confusion and uncertainty to our broken immigration system. Further, I find it interesting that after promising to enact comprehensive reform in the first year of his Presidency, the President chose to make this announcement in the middle of his heated re-election campaign.

Other state officials seem to find Obama’s decision as a positive move for the country.

U.S. Representative Raul M. Grijalva
I applaud President Obama's decision to extend the American dream to a new generation of deserving individuals. Those with deep roots in the United States who have contributed immensely to our country's well-being will -- at long last -- be taken out of the deportation pool so we can concentrate our resources on real threats and serious criminals…The rhetoric of division and marginalizing of people by Mitt Romney and the Republican party needs to end.

Senator Steve Gallardo
This is an important step in the crucial journey toward achieving the DREAM Act's goals, but we aren't there yet. Undocumented youth who graduate at the top of their high school class - some of our best and brightest - are still denied a college education. Congress must rise above the partisan divide and work together to pass the DREAM Act.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton
We need to support our young people, the people who are making the right choices, the future of our city. At a local level, we see these situations every day, especially with those who were brought here at a young age. It's heart-breaking that good kids who grew up calling our cities home could be deported through no fault of their own…

Senator David Schapira
…This directive reaffirms our country's core belief of being the land of opportunity,” and that “those who are affected by this directive represent some of the best and brightest children in our schools and young men and women who have served our country in uniform.

Arizona Democratic Party Chair Bill Roe
It is the right thing to do. It recognizes the accomplishments of motivated young people and removes an unnecessary barrier from an antiquated and broken immigration system.