Carper calls Homeland Security funding fight “crazy” [video]

“It’s crazy,” that’s how Sen. Tom Carper classified Republican plans to halt funding to the Dept. of Homeland Security in an effort to block President Obama’s Executive Order on immigration.

 

Delaware’s senior senator is the top ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee. He questioned the sanity of cutting off funding to such an important part of the federal government as Homeland Security.

“It’s crazy. If you have a problem with what the President has done, go to court,” said Carper, in an interview taped for WHYY-TV’s “First.” “This is not the way to do it.”

He said Republicans in Congress should follow the lead of states like Texas where the President’s order was challenged in court.

Earlier this week, a federal judge temporarily blocked the President’s action, ruling that the Obama Administration failed to provide an ample notification and comment period before taking action.

The White House said the Justice Department will appeal the ruling.

Root of the problem

Carper said the illegal immigration problem needs to be addressed at its root. “The reasons why people come out of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras in recent years is because they live hellacious lives. They live lives of misery, which we help contribute to.”

Drug addiction in the U.S. helps empower drug cartels to dominate those Central American countries. Addressing that problem will help reduce the influx of immigrants illegally crossing the border, he said.

“We’re part of the problem,” Carper said. “They need to address corruption, they need to address lack of hope, lack of economic opportunity, and we need to help them.”

 

Sen. Carper’s interview will appear on First on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on WHYY-TV.