Senate GOP Blasts Calderon for Immigration, Gun Comments
Senate Republicans denounced Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s criticism of a controversial Arizona immigration law on Thursday, accusing the Mexican leader of inappropriately interfering in U.S. domestic issues.
During a speech to a joint session of Congress Thursday morning, Calderon repeated his attacks on the law.
“I strongly disagree with your recently adopted law in Arizona,” he said. “It is a law that not only ignores a reality that cannot be erased by decree, but also introduces the terrible idea of racial profiling as the basis of law enforcement The new law carries a great amount of risk.”
Following the speech, Senate Republicans were quick to attack Calderon.
“The state of Arizona is stepping in where the federal government has failed,” Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said in a statement. “It is trying to stop waves of illegal immigrants, many of whom are dangerous gang members and drug and human traffickers, from crossing into its communities. It’s inappropriate for a head of state to question our laws, especially when the state of Arizona only acted in the best interest of its citizens and with the support of seventy percent of its people.”
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn also denounced Calderon’s comments on immigration, as well as his call for the reinstatement of the U.S. assault weapons ban.
“It was inappropriate for President Calderon to lecture Americans on our own state and federal laws,” the Texas Republican said. “Arizona’s immigration law has been amended to make clear it does not authorize racial profiling by law enforcement. Moreover, the Second Amendment is not a subject open for diplomatic negotiation, with Mexico or any other nation.”