The Obama administration is using the increasing insecurity of the Mexican border to push through its own agenda on immigration, according to Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl.
In a video clip posted on YouTube showing the senator speaking to a local Tea Party crowd on Friday, Kyl aid the president told him during a one-on-one meeting in the Oval Office that he was concerned he wouldn't win GOP support on immigration legislation if he took care of border security first.
"The problem is, he said, if we secure the border, then you all won't have any reason to support comprehensive immigration reform," Kyl said, as the crowd in the room gasped loudly. "In other words, they're holding it hostage."
The White House denied the claim on Monday.
"The president didn't say that and Senator Kyl knows it," White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said in a written statement. "There are more resources dedicated toward border security today than ever before, but, as the president has made clear, truly securing the border will require a comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system."
But the Number 2 Senate Republican is sticking to his story. Kyl spokesman Ryan Patmintra said, "There were two people in that meeting, and Dan Pfieffer was not one of them." He said Pfeiffer's call for comprehensive immigration legislation "only confirms" Kyl's story.
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