BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Politicians in Massachusetts reacted Friday to the president's executive order announced Thursday regarding immigration. Our political reporter Sharman Sacchetti talked with members of our local congressional delegation about what this means for the Commonwealth.
The president's action means the end of Secure Communities, the program meant to identify and deport criminal illegal immigrants. One proponent of that program told FOX 25 while Washington needed to tackle the immigration issue, he has concerns about how this move impacts local communities.
"The speaker could have ended this debate by putting a single bill on the floor of the House of Representatives. Give us a chance to vote," Congressman Joe Kennedy said.
In an interview with Sacchetti in his Newton office, Kennedy said that the president had no choice but to act on immigration, because he says Republicans refuse to.
"What more do you expect the president to do? How long can we sit there and wait while the system is broken and perpetuate a broken system?" Kennedy said.
Numbers put out by the Pew Research Center show as many as 150,000 illegal immigrants in Massachusetts could be affected by the president's actions, allowing them to qualify for work permits, and then possibly social security cards and drivers' licenses.
The state's Democratic delegation agrees the president's move is not ideal, and says now it's up to Congress.
"I'm pleased with the president's actions. Now lawmakers need to act," Congresswoman Katherine Clark said.
Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis, an outspoken critic on immigration issues, said he believes that the immigration system in this country is broken, and after a trip to the border earlier this year, he still has concerns about security.
"It is somewhat more secure in places today than it was a few years ago but we have not focused our efforts on preventing the criminal element from coming in and I think there's a porous border that's still there today," he said.
