June 3, 2010-- READOUT OF THE PRESIDENT’S MEETING WITH GOVERNOR BREWER OF ARIZONA
The President had a good meeting with Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona at the White House today to
discuss a range of critical issues of mutual interest, including the President’s comprehensive plan
to secure the Southwest border and the unprecedented resources his Administration has devoted
to that effort. The President and Governor Brewer also discussed the President’s decision to deploy
up to an additional 1,200 requirements-based National Guard troops to the border and his
upcoming request to Congress of $500 million in supplemental funds for enhanced border
protection and law enforcement activities as part of that integrated strategy. The President listened
to Governor Brewer’s concerns, and noted that the Administration’s ongoing border protection and
security efforts have increased pressure on illegal trafficking organizations through record seizures
of illegal weapons and bulk cash transiting from the United States to Mexico, resulted in significant
seizures of illegal drugs headed into the United States, lowered the average violent crime statistics
in states along the Southwest Border, and reduced illegal immigration into the United States.
Despite the significant improvements, the President acknowledged the understandable frustration
that all Americans share about the broken immigration system, and the President and Governor
agreed that the lack of action to fix the broken system at the federal level is unacceptable. As he did
at the recent meeting with Senate Republicans, the President underscored that security measures
alone won’t fix the broken borders, there needs to be comprehensive immigration reform that
includes: lasting and dedicated resources by which to secure our borders and make our
communities safer; holding unscrupulous employers accountable who hire workers illegally and
exploit them and providing clear guidance for the many employers who want to play by the rules;
and requiring those who have come here illegally to pay a fine, pay back taxes, learn English, and
get right with the law. The President urged Governor Brewer to be his partner in working in a
bipartisan manner on comprehensive immigration reform to implement the type of smart, sensible,
and effective solutions the American people expect and deserve from their federal government.
Regarding Arizona law SB1070, the President reiterated his concern with the measure, including
that a patchwork of different state immigration regulations around the country would interfere with
the federal government’s responsibility to set and enforce immigration policy.
The President had a good meeting with Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona at the White House today to
discuss a range of critical issues of mutual interest, including the President’s comprehensive plan
to secure the Southwest border and the unprecedented resources his Administration has devoted
to that effort. The President and Governor Brewer also discussed the President’s decision to deploy
up to an additional 1,200 requirements-based National Guard troops to the border and his
upcoming request to Congress of $500 million in supplemental funds for enhanced border
protection and law enforcement activities as part of that integrated strategy. The President listened
to Governor Brewer’s concerns, and noted that the Administration’s ongoing border protection and
security efforts have increased pressure on illegal trafficking organizations through record seizures
of illegal weapons and bulk cash transiting from the United States to Mexico, resulted in significant
seizures of illegal drugs headed into the United States, lowered the average violent crime statistics
in states along the Southwest Border, and reduced illegal immigration into the United States.
Despite the significant improvements, the President acknowledged the understandable frustration
that all Americans share about the broken immigration system, and the President and Governor
agreed that the lack of action to fix the broken system at the federal level is unacceptable. As he did
at the recent meeting with Senate Republicans, the President underscored that security measures
alone won’t fix the broken borders, there needs to be comprehensive immigration reform that
includes: lasting and dedicated resources by which to secure our borders and make our
communities safer; holding unscrupulous employers accountable who hire workers illegally and
exploit them and providing clear guidance for the many employers who want to play by the rules;
and requiring those who have come here illegally to pay a fine, pay back taxes, learn English, and
get right with the law. The President urged Governor Brewer to be his partner in working in a
bipartisan manner on comprehensive immigration reform to implement the type of smart, sensible,
and effective solutions the American people expect and deserve from their federal government.
Regarding Arizona law SB1070, the President reiterated his concern with the measure, including
that a patchwork of different state immigration regulations around the country would interfere with
the federal government’s responsibility to set and enforce immigration policy.
From the White House
President Barack Obama meets with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer in the Oval Office, June 3,
2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)