Here’s what some of the lawmakers representing Arizona had to say:
U.S. Sen. John McCain, Republican: “As President Obama has previously said, he is not ‘a king’ or ‘the emperor of the United States,’ and he isn’t legally able to unilaterally change immigration law any way he sees fit. Congress has a responsibility to respond and push back on his illegal power-grab. Congress must be creative in using all the tools in our toolbox — including mounting a legal challenge — to oppose the president’s action.”
U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, Republican: “As someone who supports broad reform to our immigration system, I’m very disappointed with the action the president is taking. It certainly doesn’t seem like the right way to work with a new Congress.”
U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Democrat: “I am proud of President Obama for standing by his word, and standing with immigrant communities tonight. He has proven himself a devoted American leader. The actions he announced will provide relief for millions of people who want nothing more than to be our fellow citizens and contribute to our society. The price of entry to the United States of America should not be severed family ties, exploitive employment, or the fear of deportation.”
U.S. Rep. Ron Barber, Democrat: “I’ve said from Day One that Congress needs to act, and the president should not go it alone. I am disappointed that Congress has brought us to this point and I call on leaders in the House to end the gridlock and bring the bipartisan McCain-Flake immigration bill to the floor.”
Martha McSally, Republican, and the apparent winner in the Congressional District 2 vote: “Instead of making speeches about how he’s going to go it alone on immigration and ignore our system of checks and balances, the president should be inviting leaders from both parties together to find areas we agree on. If anything’s clear from the last election, it’s that people are fed up with the divisions in Washington and want our leaders to work together.”
U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, Democrat: “Nobody is more tired of waiting for Congress to act on immigration than the people of Arizona. The president’s action tonight could bring millions of workers out of the shadows and keep families together, but it does not fix our broken immigration system. That is Congress’ job, and Congress needs to get its act together.”
Arizona Governor-elect Doug Ducey, Republican: “President Obama’s decision to move ahead on this unilateral executive action without working with Congress is the wrong approach and not what the American people want. We just had an election, and I encourage the president to heed to the will of the American people. Rather than acting alone, President Obama should sit down and work with both sides of the aisle on a realistic solution, not further divide the country and exacerbate this problem after six years of inaction on his part.”
