Flashback: AZ Gov. Janet Napolitano scolds Bush administration on border security

Greta Van Susteren exposed some interesting correspondence of former Arizona governor, now Director of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, on her Fox News On the Record  blog Friday:

Here is an excerpt from a 2008 letter then Gov of Arizona Janet Napolitano (now Secretary of Homeland Security) to then Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff:

Date: March 11, 2008

"[r]eal solutions to fix our broken borders cannot wait that long. Human and drug smuggling rings continue to thrive in Arizona, crossing our border and using our cities as major hubs to transport crosser throughout the country. While we wait for real progress on the "virtual fence," border communities in Arizona will continue to be strained by the millions of dollars in costs they must absorb due to the state of border security."

Yours very truly,
Janet Napolitano
Governor

In reading the above letter, would you not think DHS Napolitano would be Arizona's biggest champion in Washington? Would you not think she, of all people, would understand the frustration in Arizona? Don't you think she would be pushing her boss, President Obama, to help Arizona? and get President Obama to push Congress to help this state? Instead DHS Napolitano had to recently embarrassingly admit that she did not read the Arizona illegal immigration law.

And before you get all whooped up about whether the Arizona statute is constitutional or not, that is not the issue. The statute is a cry for help and the current fight over it a distraction. The issue is the FAILURE of the federal government to help the STATE of ARIZONA. The statue, while probably unconstitutional for trying to set immigration policy in contravention of our Constitution, is a cry for help -- one that has been utterly ignore.

So a short two years before she was criticizing current Arizona Governor Jan Brewer for whining about the illegal immigration problem, as Arizona Governor, she was complaining about it herself. 

Obama's ICU: Immigration and Customs Unenforcement

Unbelievable.  From Fox News:

A top Department of Homeland Security official reportedly said his agency will not necessarily process illegal immigrants referred to them by Arizona authorities.

John Morton, assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, made the comment during a meeting on Wednesday with the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune, the newspaper reports.

"I don't think the Arizona law, or laws like it, are the solution," Morton told the newspaper.

The best way to reduce illegal immigration is through a comprehensive federal approach, he said, and not a patchwork of state laws.

The law, which criminalizes being in the state illegally and requires authorities to check suspects for immigration status, is not "good government," Morton said.

In response to Morton's comments, DHS officials said President Obama has ordered the Department of Justice to examine the civil rights and other implications of the law.

"That review will inform the government's actions going forward," DHS spokesman Matt Chandler told Fox News on Friday.

Meanwhile, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said ICE is not obligated to process illegal immigrants referred to them by Arizona authorities.

"ICE has the legal discretion to accept or not to accept persons delivered to it by non-federal personnel," Napolitano said. "It also has the discretion to deport or not to deport persons delivered to it by any government agents, even its own."

Janet Napolitano, Morton's boss, made it clear that she's not interested in enforcing our immigration laws when she investigated her own ICE inspectors who in 2009 had the audacity to raid a small engine plant in Bellingham, Washington, and arrest 28 illegal immigrants working there.  (She also freed 27 of the illegals and promptly gave them employment authorization documents) for their trouble.  Now John Morton, the Director of ICE threatens not to process illegal immigrants referred by the state of Arizona?

This is clearly a case of capricious government by fiat.  Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions thinks the Obama administration is "nullifying existing law:"

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-AL, said it appeared the Obama administration is "nullifying existing law" and suggested Morton may not be the right person for his post if he fails to enforce federal immigration law.

"If he feels he cannot enforce the law, he shouldn't have the job," Sessions told Fox News. "That makes him, in my view, not fulfilling the responsibilities of his office."

Sessions said the U.S. government has "systematically failed" to enforce federal immigration law and claimed Morton's statement is an indication that federal officials do not plan on working with Arizona authorities regarding its controversial law.

"They're telegraphing to every ICE agency in America that they really don't intend on cooperating with Arizona," Sessions said. "The federal government should step up and do it. It's their responsibility."

It's no coincidence that John Morton first cut his immigation law teeth as Counsel to Clinton's Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, another Obama appointee who won't do his job.

Obama joins Mexican President Calderon in condemning Arizona immigration law

I am still seething from the news that our Assistant Secretary of State apologized to the murderous, repressive, sexist, Communist Chinese government for Arizona's new immigration law.  Now this:

Mexican President Felipe Caldern [sic]on Wednesday criticized Arizona's tough new immigration law as "discriminatory," a rebuke of a domestic policy rare for a foreign leader to deliver on U.S. soil.

Calderón's criticism was echoed by President Obama during a joint Rose Garden news conference held hours before Calderón was honored at a state dinner.

Arizona's law "has the potential of being applied in a discriminatory fashion," Obama said. "The judgments that are going to be made in applying this law are troublesome."

The law requires police to question people about immigration status if there is a "reasonable suspicion" they are in the country illegally. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, said the law was needed because the federal government has failed to address the "crisis caused by illegal immigration."

The law has sparked protests in Mexico and the U.S., and both presidents previously have expressed concern about it. But University of Minnesota political scientist Lawrence Jacobs called it "almost unheard of" for a foreign leader to criticize a state law while visiting the U.S. "The common practice and courtesy is not to interfere in another country's internal affairs," he said.

Obama didn't seem put off. He hailed Calderón as a "true partner" on issues from the war against drugs to creating jobs on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border.

Calderón thanked Obama for his hospitality and conveyed the "respectful and affectionate greeting" of his people to the United States.

The president of Mexico has no standing to criticize the United States on its treatment of immigrants in Arizona or anywhere else.  Some tidbits from the State Department website on Mexico specific travel (all emphasis mine):

Tourist Travel: U.S. citizens do not require a visa or a tourist card for tourist stays of 72 hours or less within "the border zone," defined as an area between 20 to 30 kilometers of the border with the U.S., depending on the location. U.S. citizens traveling as tourists beyond the border zone or entering Mexico by air must pay a fee to obtain a tourist card, also known as an FM-T, available from Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing points, Mexican tourism offices, airports within the border zone and most airlines serving Mexico. The fee for the tourist card is generally included in the price of a plane ticket for travelers arriving by air. Please note that travelers not in possession of their FM-T card at the point of exit from Mexico may face a fine from Mexican Immigration (INM).

Business Travel: Upon arrival in Mexico, business travelers must complete and submit a form (Form FM-N) authorizing the conduct of business, but not employment, for a 30-day period. Travelers entering Mexico for purposes other than tourism or business or for stays of longer than 180 days require a visa and must carry a valid U.S. passport. U.S. citizens planning to work or live in Mexico should apply for the appropriate Mexican visa at the Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC, or at the nearest Mexican consulate in the United States.

Vehicle Permits: Tourists wishing to travel beyond the border zone with their vehicle must obtain a temporary import permit or risk having their vehicle confiscated by Mexican customs officials. At present the only exceptions to the requirement are for travel in the Baja Peninsula and in the state of Sonora, and only for vehicles entering through the Nogales port of entry. To acquire a permit, one must submit evidence of citizenship, title for the vehicle, a vehicle registration certificate, a driver's license, and a processing fee to either a Banjercito (Mexican Army Bank) branch located at a Mexican Customs (Aduanas) office at the port of entry, or at one of the Mexican consulates located in the U.S. Mexican law also requires the posting of a bond at a Banjercito office to guarantee the export of the car from Mexico within a time period determined at the time of the application. For this purpose, American Express, Visa or MasterCard credit card holders will be asked to provide credit card information; others will need to make a cash deposit of between $200 and $400, depending on the make/model/year of the vehicle. In order to recover this bond or avoid credit card charges, travelers must go to any Mexican Customs office immediately prior to departing Mexico. Regardless of any official or unofficial advice to the contrary, vehicle permits cannot be obtained at checkpoints in the interior of Mexico.

Travelers should avoid individuals who wait outside vehicle permit offices and offer to obtain the permits without waiting in line, even if they appear to be government officials. There have been reports of fraudulent or counterfeit permits being issued adjacent to the vehicle import permit office in Nuevo Laredo and other border areas. If the proper permit is not obtained before entering Mexico and cannot be obtained at the Banjercito branch at the port of entry, do not proceed to the interior. Travelers without the proper permit may be incarcerated, fined and/or have their vehicle seized at immigration/customs checkpoints.

Harassment/Extortion: In some instances, Americans have become victims of harassment, mistreatment and extortion by Mexican law enforcement and other officials. Mexican authorities have cooperated in investigating such cases, but one must have the officer's name, badge number, and patrol car number to pursue a complaint effectively. Please note this information if you ever have a problem with police or other officials.

Mexico actually enforces its borders.  How outrageous!

The Obama administration continues to abase our country in his quest for social justice and world order.  I guess he'll be calling Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong-il next week to make amends for the wayward Grand Canyon State.

Lights out for L.A?

Ed Morrissey at HotAir gets the scoop on the Arizona Corporation Commission's response to the Los Angeles boycott of the Grand Canyon State:

The Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott the state of Arizona over its new immigration-enforcement law, and now the Arizona Corporation Commission has responded. Gary Pierce, one of the commissioners chosen in state-wide elections to the utility regulation panel, notes that Los Angeles gets about 25% of its power from Arizona producers. If the City of Angels really wants a boycott, Pierce offers his services to help, as he explains in a letter to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and copied to Hot Air:

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,

I was dismayed to learn that the Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott Arizona and Arizona-based companies — a vote you strongly supported — to show opposition to SB 1070 (Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act).

You explained your support of the boycott as follows: “While we recognize that as neighbors, we share resources and ties with the State of Arizona that may be difficult to sever, our goal is not to hurt the local economy of Los Angeles, but to impact the economy of Arizona. Our intent is to use our dollars — or the withholding of our dollars — to send a message.” (emphasis added)

I received your message; please receive mine. As a state-wide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona’s electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the “resources and ties” we share with the City of Los Angeles. In fact, approximately twenty-five percent of the electricity consumed in Los Angeles is generated by power plants in Arizona.

If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona’s economy.

People of goodwill can disagree over the merits of SB 1070. A state-wide economic boycott of Arizona is not a message sent in goodwill.

Sincerely,

Commissioner Gary Pierce

You can learn more about Mr. Pierce on his website here.  I found it interesting that he has four sons, all Eagle Scouts!

Arizona governor hits back at Obama border remark on YouTube

The election campaign of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has just taken a swipe at President Obama on YouTube with a video that criticizes the commander in chief for making jokes about Arizona's border struggles.  Here it is (via On the Record with Greta Van Sustern):



According to The Arizona Republic:

The White House declined to officially comment on the video Friday, but an administration official referred The Republic to other remarks the president has recently made in which he acknowledged the illegal immigration challenges facing the nation.

On April 23, during a naturalization ceremony for active duty service members, President Obama went on to tout steps his administration has taken under Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, including strengthening security at the nation's borders, ports and airports.

The administration also pointed to the president's comments on Cinco de Mayo as evidence of its commitment to address the problem.

"The way to fix our broken immigration system is through common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform," the president said. "We need bipartisan support. But it can be done. And it needs to be done."

Another example of "all hat and no cattle."

Our wordsmith President clearly doesn't get it.