Romney: Prefer if Supreme Court gave states "more latitude"

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

(CBS News) SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Mitt Romney told a group of donors on Monday that he would have "preferred to see the Supreme Court give more latitude to the states, not less," in response to the Court's ruling to strike down three contested provisions of a controversial Arizona immigration law.

Romney also accused President Obama of failing to make headway on immigration reform, saying the nation's immigration enforcement situation was "a muddle."

"It didn't have to be this way," Romney said during a fundraiser at a Scottsdale, Ariz., resort. "The president promised in his campaign that in his first year he would take on immigration and solve our immigration challenges, put in place a long term program to care for those that want to come here legally, to dealwith illegal immigration, to deal with securing our borders. All these things he was going to in his first year. He had a Democrat House and a Democrat Senate, but he didn't do it. Isn't it time for the American people to ask him: Why?"

It took several hours for Romney to fully address the merits of what the Court had done. Earlier in the day, his campaign released a statement blaming the president for failing to pass immigration reform but weighing in on neither the content of the decision nor the law itself.

(Watch reporter Rebecca Kaplan explain Romney's response.)

"Today's decision underscores the need for a president who will lead on this critical issue and work in a bipartisan fashion to pursue a national immigration strategy," Romney said in the statement. "President Obama has failed to provide any leadership on immigration. This represents yet another broken promise by this president. I believe that each state has the duty--and the right--to secure our borders and preserve the rule of law, particularly when the federal government has failed to meet its responsibilities. As candidate Obama, he promised to present an immigration plan during his first year in office. But four years later, we are still waiting." 

The Supreme Court preserved the most controversial provision of the Arizona law, which instructs police offers to check the immigration status of anyone they stop or detain. The overall ruling was seen as a victory for the Obama administration, which argued that immigration was a federal, rather than state, responsibility.

Romney has avoided sharing his opinions on the specific provisions of the law, SB 1070. But he has been endorsed by and receives campaign advice from Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who helped author the Arizona immigration law. And he has said that on Day One of his presidency, he would drop the federal government's lawsuits against states such as Arizona that are seeking to implement their own immigration-enforcement laws.

Romney also has voiced his support for an older Arizona immigration law, the Legal Arizona Workers Act, which requires employers to use a federal database to confirm that new employees are eligible to work in the United States. He called that law "a model" during a Feb. 22 primary campaign debate in Arizona.

[fiddlestickawshucks]

I am no fan of Romney or Obama either.

However; Obama's failure to keep another of his "promises" is another contribution to the further deterioration of the United States.

American citizens have reached the point where we are struggling to keep our families fed and a roof over their heads.

The net worth of the average American has dropped 40%, yet Obama continues on the same destructive path.

If he couldn't accomplish what he set out to do in 3 1/2 years, what makes anybody think he can do it in he next five months.

Congress also needs to accept their responsibility for the current crises here in the US.!!

[OldTimeTruth]

Romney is just plain dumb. The house and senate is holding up immigration reform. Not Obama. This man takes the cake on dumbness!!

[Ulgnud]

Why do so many people think this is an insurmountable problem. Dry up the jobs and all the US Taxpayer funded handouts. Deport any and all illegal invaders whenever and wherever found within 24 hours. No exceptions and no Amnesty. Problem solved.

[RollotheNorman]

Now Willard, that's not the Supreme's said now is it? Of course, you're trying hard to side with Scalia and Brewer who have this peculiar notion that somehow States are little sovereign nations except when they want Federal money or help. I think that idea was tried here and given up around 1789.

[nirak2-2009]

The Supremes have spoken Romney.
Took you a long time to finally have an answer a Reporter ask you about many hours earlier. LOL
Typical Repugs, if President Obama is for it, a Repug is against it.

[nearl451]

Wow, Mitt got one right. They should give more deference to States ...............when it comes to outlawing corporate cash and OVERTURN Citizen's United.

What? He wasn't talking about that.

Now all kidding aside. I guess we see that Romney has no long term solution to the illegal immigration either.

[nearl451]

Seems to be a different tune than he was whistling to the Hispanics last week.

LOL.

[sjc_1]

Mr. Political Windsock, pointing which ever way the wind is blowing. Tell the press one thing, tell the donors another and tell the special interest groups something else entirely. All the time being as vague as he possibly can be, which in his case is about as vague as it can get while still actually speaking words.

[tafhdyd]

"he would drop the federal government's lawsuits against states such as Arizona that are seeking to implement their own immigration-enforcement laws."

So Mitt, what you gonna do if a state decides they don't want any Mormons crossing their border? Or Alabama doesn't want any yankees? Etc.

[esq777]

So, what is Willard Romney's position? Nobody knows because he's too gutless to take a stand on anything. But I guess that's to be expected from a prep school bully who hid out in France during Vietnam.

[AttyFAM]

Give the states more latitude on immigration. What nation has 51 separate immigration policies. That is the height of ridiculousness.

Listen, folks. Romney does not understand the Constitution, never did and is not trying to learn now. That is a HUGE weakness in a would-be president. So if you want a President that does not understand our federal system, vote for Romney. He is your idiot.

[55minus5]

Romney is a loser. He looks like one, he sounds like one, he'll act like one if the opportunity comes, which would be astonishing, for he should not get any (a loser, as he is).