Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant sent a letter to Obama stating he would not allow the federal government to bring illegals into his state.
“To the extent permitted by law, I intend to prohibit the federal government or its agents from housing large numbers of new illegal immigrants in the state of Mississippi,” Bryant wrote.
“Illegal immigration imposes real and substantial costs on the states, and it is unfair to expect the states to bear the costs of a problem created by the federal government’s failure to enforce the law.”
JACKSON — Mississippi has received fewer than 200 of the unaccompanied immigrant children who crossed the U.S. border and were released to sponsors so far this year, but the war of words over such children continues within the state.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families released data yesterday showing that sponsors in Mississippi received 179 of more than 30,000 such children nationwide from January 1 to July 7.
California, Florida, New York and Texas received the most children in the past half year, accounting for 46 percent of the children released to sponsors.
Gov. Phil Bryant, a longtime opponent of illegal immigration, said it was “troubling” that the federal government was sending children to Mississippi without consulting him, calling the moves “covert immigration practices conducted by an overreaching federal government.”
Bryant, a Republican, wrote to President Barack Obama on Friday demanding that Obama pre-announce plans to send immigrants to Mississippi and saying Mississippi would block transports.
Bryant, who accused Obama of having “lax immigration policies and flagrant disregard for federal immigration law” noted a 2012 executive order he signed that’s meant to bar immigrants living in Mississippi illegally from receiving public benefits. Yesterday, he threatened immediate action against any official who violates that order by giving food stamps, non-emergency medical benefits or welfare payments to the children.
The Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance held a news conference yesterday to decry Bryant’s letter, saying Mississippi should welcome children in need and afford them a chance to go through deportation hearings under federal law.
“We’re very concerned about the xenophobia in the letter that was put out by the governor,” said alliance Executive Director Bill Chandler.
Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., sent his own letter to Obama criticizing Bryant’s stance.
“We have a moral obligation as Americans and as decent human beings to do the right by the kids that have, against the odds, reached our border,” Thompson wrote. “Many Mississippians agree on this — you can count me among them.”
Looking at the history of Mississippi, it is hardly the state I would be looking to for advice. Much more likely that I would see what Mississippi was doing, do the exact opposite, and history would tell us that we would be on the right side. In the case of the current immigation problem, FEDERAL LAW says that we must take these migrant children and not deport them. A result of law signed by George Bush (which was humanitarian at the time). NO ONE is says to “take illegals”. The current children are not “illegals”. Under the law, they are considered refugees. Obama is following the law. (It probably hasn’t gotten to Mississippi yet, it was passed in 2002).
No they are illegals ! Sent here by their parents for us to support ! We can’t take care of the homeless in America ! They come here with hardly any shots or none at all they are bringing in measles , scabies , the swine flu, have you not heard small pox is making a come back? I’m just not ready to fight off the many diseases we will face coming this winter as they continue to arrive ! They have parents and they need to be deported back to them! Our president is destroying this country because the many that voted for him never researched what he was about but only saw his color and the words ” hope and change” that was enough for them!! Now look where we are! The only thing we can “hope “for is that he is impeached
Greg Langan—it’s no longer the 60’s but in fact 2014.
Every State must do the same to SAVE AMERICA for future generations !
agree with you Janice, they are the ones wanting & letting them in our country breaking the law, let all those people in Washington making 6 digit figures support them, we support enough to where our own people struggle to make ends meet in order to support the illegals & free loaders…wonder how many of the hot shot DC people would be willing to support them if forced too…hmmm I see the border being closed & the welcome mat taken away if those politicians HAD TO SUPPORT THEM…
tonykeywest says:
“Someone tell Thompson if WE have an obligation to them then open his home and let them in. hypocrite.”
From: http://www.truthandaction.org/mississippi-governor-will-block-federal-govt-bringing-illegals/comment-page-5/#comment-381992
Liar lol
Hat’s off to him
Kandace…60’s, 2014 clearly no difference in Mississippi. Karen…you are just plain wrong. The law say we must teke them in…they are not illegals. I guess facts or laws really are meaningless to you. You accuse Obama and liberals with breaking the law BUT IN FACT they are doing exactly what the law says to do.
Hey I know !!! You sign up as a “sponsor”!!! They are looking for people like you ! You take care of them! Feed them , clothe them, send them to school and pay for all their medical by yourself with your own money !!!! Leave my tax dollars alone! Later get back on this web site and let us all know how that worked out for you !!! Ok?
Greg Langan—you apparently have no brain with which you would use to do your own thinking. You are an ignorant biggot, clearly!!
The governor is right. Why should the taxpayers in Mississippi pay for the federal government’s errors.