Support for sanctuary cities is an example of how the Obama administration has tried to balance the country’s laws with the fact that the U.S. is a “nation of immigrants,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Wednesday.
“Listen, the president has made clear that when it comes to our immigration policy, it’s important for our federal policies to reflect that we’re also a nation of laws, but we’re also a nation of immigrants,” Earnest said.
He argued the fact that sanctuary cities, or areas where law enforcement generally does not comply with deportation requirements, are even part of the national conversation is a “symptom” of the larger issues plaguing the nation’s immigration system.
Earnest again blamed congressional Republicans for the way they “blocked or prevented a vote” on comprehensive immigration reform.
He noted the reforms Obama pushed had included “onerous obstacles that have to be overcome” for undocumented immigrants to gain citizenship.
President-elect Trump has sharply criticized the immigration reform bill that failed to clear Congress, pledging to take a more hard-line approach to enforcing immigration laws.
