Mitt Romney argued that President Obama ignores the Latino community when he is not in a presidential election year, as he faulted the president for breaking his promise to pass comprehensive illegal immigration reforms.
“Now tomorrow, President Obama will speak here;of course, that’s the first time he’s spoken here since his last campaign,” Romney said at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) in Orlando, Fla. “I believe he’s taking your vote for granted.”
Romney then attacked Obama’s decision to implement the DREAM Act through an executive branch decision not to enforce the immigration laws with respect to people who would qualify as DREAMers. “For two years, this President had huge majorities in the House and Senate – he was free to pursue any policy he pleased,” Romney said in his prepared remarks. “But he did nothing to advance a permanent fix for our broken immigration system. Instead, he failed to act until facing a tough re-election and trying to secure your vote. Last week, the President finally offered a temporary measure that he seems to think will be just enough to get him through the election.”
When Romney attacked the legislation that Obama did prioritize — health care reform — as a “$2 trillion entitlement,” the NALEO conference attendees applauded.
