Babeu: President’s immigration plan is ‘shocking’

Jun 15, 2012, 8:15 AM | Updated: 3:18 pm

KTAR.com

PHOENIX — Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said he’s shocked by the Obama administration move to stop deporting some younger illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children.

“Now we have Obama, Holder and Napolitano that think they can just unilaterally wave their hand and change the law and policy,” said Babeu, referring to the president, Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.

Babeu said the move is nothing more than the president trying to draw in the Hispanic vote for his re-election run.

“It’s driven by politics. Looking for Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Swing states vital to his re-election.”

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President Barack Obama makes an announcement that the U.S. government will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives, Friday, June 15, 2012, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

President Barack Obama responds as he is interrupted while announcing that his administration will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives, Friday, June 15, 2012, during a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama announces that the U.S. government will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives, Friday, June 15, 2012, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

"Right to Dream" students and supporters block the street outside the federal Metropolitan Detention Center Friday June 15, 2012, in Los Angeles to celebrate the Obama administrations decision to stop deporting younger illegal immigrants. Obama says his plan to stop deporting younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children will make the system "more fair, more efficient and more just." (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Leslie Osegueda, a"Right to Dream" supporter blocks the street outside the federal Metropolitan Detention Center Friday June 15, 2012, in Los Angeles to celebrate the Obama administrations decision to stop deporting younger illegal immigrants. Obama says his plan to stop deporting younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children will make the system "more fair, more efficient and more just." (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Neil Munro of the Daily Caller listens to President Barack Obama as he responds to his interruption during an announcement, Friday, June 15, 2012, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Myrna Orozco, 22, of Kansas City, Mo., an illegal immigrant originally from Mexico, wipes away tears while watching President Obama announce that the U.S. government will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives, Friday, June 15, 2102, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Lorella Praeli, 23, of New Haven, Conn., originally from Peru, cries while watching President Obama announce that the U.S. government will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives, Friday, June 15, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Barack Obama announces that his administration will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives, during a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Former Washington Post journalist turned immigration reform activist, Jose Antonio Vargas, right, an illegal immigrant, is overcome with emotion speaking to Gaby Pacheco, 27, of Miami, an illegal immigrant originally from Ecuador, after watching President Obama announce that the U.S. government will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives, Friday, June 15, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

From left, Myisha Areloano, Adrian James, Jahel Campos, David Vuenrostro, and Antonio Cabrera camp outside of the Obama Campaign Headquarters in Culver City, Calif. in protest of President Obama's immigration policiesand in hopes of getting him to pass an executive order to halt discretionary deportation on Friday, June 16, 2012. President Obama eased enforcement of immigration laws Friday, offering a chance for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to stay in the country and work. Immediately embraced by Hispanics, the extraordinary step touched off an election-year confrontation with congressional Republicans. (AP Photo/Grant Hindsley)

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), leaves the room after responding to President Obama's immigration speech, Friday, June 15, 2012, at the Capitol in Phoenix. Brewer said President Barack Obama represents a "pre-emptive strike" aimed at an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could uphold parts of the state's immigration enforcement law. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), responds to President Obama's immigration speech, Friday, June 15, 2012, at the Capitol in Phoenix. Brewer said President Barack Obama represents a "pre-emptive strike" aimed at an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could uphold parts of the state's immigration enforcement law. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), arrives to respond to President Obama's immigration speech, Friday, June 15, 2012, at the Capitol in Phoenix. Brewer said President Barack Obama represents a "pre-emptive strike" aimed at an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could uphold parts of the state's immigration enforcement law. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Illegal immigrants, including Katye Hernandez, 22, of Silver Spring, Md., left, and U.S. citizens including Rachelle Robertello, 18, of Fairfax, Va., center, along with staff of Casa de Maryland, rally in front of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 15, 2012, in support of President Barack Obama after the President announced that the U.S. government will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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