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Perhaps not when a foreign leader is criticizing a U.S. state’s law that they have not yet read. But this situation arose earlier today, when both Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder applauded Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s criticism of a recent Arizona immigration law.

What is most troubling is the fact that both Eric Holder and Janet Napolitano told Congressional oversight committees just last week that they had not yet taken the time to read the 10 page law. Unfortunately,

Holder and Napolitano’s applause today was backed up by a shocking announcement by Obama’s hand-picked choice to head the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, John Morton.  The Arizona Republic reports:

John Morton, who heads U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said his agency will not necessarily process illegal immigrants referred to them by Arizona officials. The best way to reduce illegal immigration is through a comprehensive federal approach, not a patchwork of state laws, he said.

Whether Morton agrees with the law passed by the State of Arizona or not, his sworn duty is to enforce our nation’s immigration laws.  The idea that he would direct his agency to ignore violations of those laws simply because he does not agree with how those violations were brought to his agency’s attention is not only disappointing, it’s dangerous. 

These actions are symptomatic of the Obama administration’s shameful eagerness to back away from American interests.  Enforcing federal immigration laws is one the most important roles of the federal government, but instead of focusing on this responsibility and other issues of national security, the Obama administration is leaving the people of Arizona to fend for themselves.