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Will Obama let Senate immigration plan go forward?

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    Sen. Jeff Flake weighs in on bipartisan proposal

  • Duration 5:31
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-- -- all sides clamor for the lead on immigration reform right now President Obama laid down his marker on this issue.

In Las Vegas yesterday take a look.

We all agree that these men and women should have to earn -- their way to citizenship.

But for comprehensive immigration reform -- work.

It must be clear from the outset that there is a pathway to citizenship.

You had a -- -- -- there with a blueprint released by these eight senators.

Would not let illegal immigrants seek citizenship until border security.

Is strength and in a comprehensive way Arizona Republican senator Jeff flake is in that bipartisan group of course -- joins me now senator good morning good to have you here.

Thanks for having -- on.

So what was your reaction when you heard what the president sat in terms have not necessarily needing -- -- border security completely -- up before you begin the -- is citizenship.

Now you've got to have border security.

Pathway to citizenship as important as that is to the president.

-- way to border security is important to those of us especially in Arizona we've got to happen.

So that it Marco Rubio agrees with you he said you know he -- wanna get into a bidding war on this that this group of bipartisan senators.

Agreed on this this platform for for this deal.

And basically that you know they they want the president to stay out of it.

Have had -- think that's gonna go out.

Well I I was.

Please the president at least didn't have put down an ultimatum and say that unless.

They -- there's a direct path to citizenship without border security he won't sign the legislation.

There was also -- big omission in the president's.

Proposal there's no temporary worker plan we've got to have that.

The president just hasn't been able to two across the unions I guess on that one but this is the bipartisan plan here.

On Capitol Hill and and I hope that the president allows this legislation to go forward.

It is a question out there this morning about politically.

Whether the president thinks that he benefits more.

From getting a deal done here and having immigration be you know a success story for him and for Republicans and sort of sharing that.

Success story or.

You know he won seventy plus percent of the vote with Hispanics did does he want to continue.

To sort of put.

Paint Republicans into a corner with that group of the voting public.

You know I I truly don't know what he wants in the end that's all I know is this is the right thing to do.

We're gonna do it on a bipartisan basis in congress I hope the president -- supported when it gets to his desk.

But as far as you know motives that the president has I just don't know.

He'll want one -- at a -- on -- -- just a little bit more because there's an appealing that that the fiscal deal.

A big fiscal agreement in terms of victory on the president's ledger may not be coming that gun control we're trying to get to in just a second.

Also may not be coming.

And that this victory is something that both sides think that they can that they can get -- and boy does -- congress just as well.

As the president need to have you know sort of an agreement on something.

In their pocket this time around.

Well I hope so although the fiscal issues are far far bigger and and that's where we really have to have.

Some progress but this is a big one as well the president did tell his his voters four years ago that in his first term.

He would do immigration reform that wasn't done.

And so there there is I think some motivation to get something done I just don't know if he'll agree to the legislation bipartisan deal but we're putting together.

This former quick what I had immigration what satisfies you in terms of border security.

-- -- you know that's that that's where you want it to be before you can start the -- citizenship.

You know that's a great question in Arizona we have about two sectors.

On the border the Yuma sector in the Tucson sector.

The Yuma sector is about 88 miles of border and we do have.

What is termed operational control and everyone agrees that it's that that's what ideas.

We just need bat in the Tucson sector and then we'll be happy to move ahead.

And let people adjust their status so we do know what it looks like it has a definition and and that's what we need to do the same.

-- I wanna I wanna move on to the hearing that's gonna happen this morning in the senate that ain't no doubt there will be some.

Fireworks are for lack of a better term there this morning if you know you're gonna Wayne Lapierre of the NRA.

And also mark Kelly the famous astronaut we also had -- Gabby Giffords his wife the former congresswoman.

May also make a statement what do you want to hear and there today.

Well I think we've all believe for a long time that there is -- there is something that can be done particularly in the area background checks.

We want to make sure that criminals don't have access to guns.

And those who are not.

In -- mental state to have the guns they shouldn't have them there are things that we can do there to broaden.

Background checks are currently happened.

So I I hope that that's where we can make some.

Well let's give you don't assume that much about the mental equation here who's really pushing for that out there making that their priority in this in this discussion.

Well.

There have been talks about about it it's a difficult difficult -- to crack it really is.

But.

But I think we've got to make some progress there.

I think that's where partners if you -- -- really impact gun violence.

That's where you can make a difference.

Senator flake thank you got a busy day ahead we appreciate you being with us this morning -- Thank thank thank you much --

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