WASHINGTON — Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez criticized President Barack Obama's immigration announcement, warning that it raises constitutional concerns that Obama is abandoning his oath of office.
"Yesterday the president announced an immigration step that i disagree with on substantive and procedural grounds," Gonzalez said, of the plan which ends deportations for certain young illegal immigrants.
"While I agree providing help to qualified children of immigrants, the president's new policy does nothing to secure our borders or require greater workplace enforcement nor deal with visa overstayers nor deal with the millions of undocumented immigrants who entered this country as adults," he continued.
Gonzalez added that Obama's decision "looks like a political calculation to win Hispanic votes and subjects him to criticism that he is violating his oath of office by selectively failing to enforce the law."
Asked after his remarks what he meant, Gonzalez said he is all for helping young illegal immigrants who were brought to this country by their parents, but through legislation.
"I'm on record saying we ought to do something to help these kids. Sen. Rubio is on record, I think a lot of folks are on record."
Asked if he supports the Rubio alternative DREAM Act which Mitt Romney embraced yesterday, Gonzalez said he isn't sure.
"I haven't seen the Rubio solution," he said.