In multiple states, state leaders are courageously stepping in to address illegal immigration, one of the federal government’s biggest policy failures since, well, since the federal government assumed control of immigration on April 18, 1890.  It is well understood that no matter how carefully crafted one’s words are on this issue, there will be those from both the right and the left who take exception. Nonetheless, when it comes to the federal government’s role, the recent actions of the Obama Administration – as reported by the Washington Post require a response on behalf of the Republican state legislators and attorneys general who are actually facing the problem daily and working to address it in their states.

After nearly three years of refusing to take action and doing nothing to push a comprehensive immigration reform bill, the Obama Administration has finally decided to act.  And what is the Administration’s plan?  The plan boils down to blocking state efforts to address immigration that are born solely, and not ironically, from the Obama Administration’s failure.

While President Obama may be cynically trying to lift the hopes of Hispanic voters with soaring rhetoric of immigration reform, those hopes have been dashed by the reality of a near full-term passing without any kind of real push for reform. Hispanic voters know what a real effort to reform immigration looks like because President Bush showed them in a concerted effort from 2006-2007. Whether one agrees with the former President’s approach, there is no denying he put some “skin in the game” by sending cabinet secretaries to the Hill and launching a full and sustained campaign that combined public events with private working groups to try and forge a consensus.

While the efforts ultimately came up short on June 28, 2007 when the bill was defeated in the Senate, Hispanic voters now have a clear comparison between one President who took action and another who talks action.

This egregious failure at the federal level has led Republican state legislators, governors, and attorneys general to work in earnest to pass reforms and defend them in court. No fewer than 22 states introduced Arizona-like immigration legislation in 2011.  Five of these 22 – Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, and Utah – now join Arizona in having passed stringent immigration laws.

To be clear, like so many issues in both parties, there is not a consensus among Republicans about what should be done to address illegal immigration. What is clear, though, is simple – the Republican Party is united in favor of legal immigration and opposed to illegal immigration. Our country was built on a series of immigration waves over the past 200 years. So many immigrants to America, then and now, come for the opportunities this country provides not for entitlements. The Republican Party knows this and celebrates this fundamental strength of America.  But Republicans also know that a free society must honor the rule of law and this means a zero-tolerance policy for rewarding illegal immigration.

The Republican State Leadership Committee is supporting leaders as they govern and fight back against the Obama Administration's dearth of pro-active steps and trampling of state’s rights.  The RSLC leadership’s recent focus has been to launch The Future Majority Project this year, a three-tiered effort to recruit and support 100 new Hispanic candidates at the state legislative level. For too long, policymakers have failed to accurately communicate a conservative Republican message to Hispanics, or worse, have proposed policy decisions without understanding. The RSLC recognizes that by bringing representation to an inherently conservative Hispanic community Hispanics will have a louder voice within the Republican Party. There are no better emissaries of public policy than Hispanic Republicans who know their communities and can bridge the gap in communication and understanding. 

It is time the President stop attacking states that take action on immigration.  The pandering must end and the federal over-reach most stop.  Republicans have an opportunity to show leadership on this issue and, on the state level, they are doing just that.  After November 6, 2012, there will be many more Hispanic Republicans joining that effort, and this is terrific news.