By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R) from Montgomery suggested on Thursday that President Obama is sabotaging the immigration reform bill negotiation so as to keep the immigration issue as a campaign issue.
Congresswoman Roby said in a written statement, “I have long made clear the need to reform our country’s broken immigration system to ensure that individuals that enter our country do so legally. Talks have been underway in Washington between Republicans and Democrats over how to create an immigration system that actually works. The problem is the Obama Administration, specifically Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, keeps moving the goalposts.”
Rep. Roby said, “Republicans involved in the talks – including conservative Senator Marco Rubio of Florida – have insisted that before talking about any reforms to the immigration process, first the border must be secured. Makes sense, right? Well, now Secretary Napolitano is saying securing the border first “is not the way to go.” She even went as far as to say that “we’re confident that the border is as secure as it’s ever been.” I disagree with Secretary Napolitano’s assessment of our border security, and I believe that any changes to immigration laws can only come after we secure our borders.”
Rep. Roby concluded, “It just goes to prove what I’ve said for many weeks about President Obama’s true intentions. He doesn’t want to fix the immigration system, he just wants to retain the issue of immigration to campaign against Republicans. “
Senator Rubio (R) from Florida has called for the immigration bill having border security “triggers” that the Administration has to achieve for the rest of the immigration reform bill to proceed……the part giving 11 million illegals already here amnesty and a path to citizenship.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said recently however, “Once people really look at the whole system and how it works, relying on one thing as a so-called trigger is not the way to go.” The Senate also recently rejected an amendment by Senator Jeff Sessions (R) from Alabama that would bar legalized illegal aliens from getting healthcare benefits through Obamacare.
Sen. Rubio in January said that this was a deal breaker. Rubio told Rush Limbaugh, “They don’t qualify for any federal benefits except for one, Obamacare. Obamacare is the only federal benefit where you qualify for it, not because you have a green card but only because you’re lawfully present. That issue needs to be resolved because if Obamacare is available to 11 million people, it blows a hole in our budget and makes this bill undoable.”
Congresswoman Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District.
