Smith to President: DOJ Not a Branch of the DNC

For Immediate Release September 30, 2011

Contact: Jessica Baker, (202) 225-3951

Smith to President: DOJ Not a Branch of the DNC

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement today in response to a media report that the Obama administration plans to challenge several state immigration enforcement laws.  To date, the Obama administration has sued Arizona and Alabama for their state laws seeking to enforce federal immigration laws.

Chairman Smith: “The President is on the wrong side of the American people.  According to a recent poll, two-thirds of the American people want to see immigration laws enforced.  Despite this, the Campaigner-in-Chief is at it again. 

“With President Obama losing support from his political base, his administration is flailing around in all directions seeking to get liberals back on board.  Reports that the Justice Department is threatening to sue more states for enforcing immigration laws is just another campaign move.  The Justice Department should not be used as a branch of the Democratic National Committee.  

“The President should put the interests of unemployed Americans first, not those of illegal immigrants.  Jobs held by illegal immigrants should go to unemployed Americans.”

House Judiciary Committee