McCain on Immigration: The Border Is Broken

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) appeared on CBS' "The Early Show" today to discuss a recently passed bill in his home state that would make it a crime under state law to be in the U.S. illegally.

"This law is a response to the president's and the administration's failure to secure our borders," McCain told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith. "The federal government has a responsibility to secure the borders, they have not." (Watch the video at left)

The bill was signed Friday by Republican Gov. Jan Brewer and has since been the subject of heated discussion and debate. Set to take effect in late July or early August, it directs state and local police to question people about their immigration status.

"The border is broken. The cartels are in an existential struggle with the government of Mexico, the violence is at an all time high, and the federal government has a responsibility to secure the borders," said McCain.

McCain was also asked how he would respond to the millions of Hispanic Americans living in Arizona who believed they will be discriminated against under this new bill.

"I do not want any discriminatory behavior, and I've talked to a group of lawmen as short a time ago as Saturday," he replied. "They think they can implement this without racial profiling."