Activists disgusted with GOP over immigration amendment

PHOENIX — Immigrant rights activists in Arizona are calling on the U.S. Senate to get rid of an amendment that strikes down President Obama’s recently-announced deferred action program, which would allow four million undocumented immigrants to remain in the country.

The U.S. House passed that amendment as part of a Homeland Security bill on Wednesday.

During a press conference in Phoenix on Thursday, Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego said that the amendment is inhumane.

“These are young men and women that were brought to this country without their choice,” said Gallego. “They are paying taxes. Many of them have settled down and have lives. The idea that we’re going to attach this inhumane portion to the Homeland Security fund to try to take away their right to try to be here in this country is ridiculous.”

Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo said that Republicans can’t seem to make up their mind.

“Their biggest complaint was that the federal government wasn’t doing anything (about immigration). Now they’re balking because the federal government is doing something,” Gallardo said.

Gallardo is calling out one Republican in particular.

“I call on congressman Matt Salmon to stop playing politics, to stop being an obstructionist and to start working on solutions,” he said. “It is time to come up with solutions. If you’re not happy with (Obama’s) executive orders, then come up with a solution. Come up with a bill dealing with a broken national problem. A broken immigration problem. Let’s see a bill!”

Gallego said that the president will veto the Homeland Security bill if the Senate passes it in its current form. The activist group at his press conference Thursday wants Senate to pass the bill without the amendment.