Allen West says he's 'dejected' by Romney's answers on immigration

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) said Monday he was "dejected" by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's performance during an interview Friday in which he was asked repeatedly about President Obama's recently announced policy shift on illegal immigration.

Romney dodged questions about whether he would repeal an administration policy that halts deportation proceedings on some young illegal immigrants. He said instead he would advocate for a long-term, legislative solution to the issue.

But West objected to what he perceived as equivocating, pleading with Romney to take a stand on the issue.

"I guess I feel a little bit dejected because I think that it goes back to what my mother taught me, 'a man must stand for something, or else he’ll fall for anything,' " West said on the Laura Ingraham radio show.

The Tea Party favorite went on to attack Obama for having made the move, arguing he unjustly circumvented Congress.

"You know the last time we had this was with King George the III, and we didn't like it too much. And I think what you’re seeing is the resurrection of an imperial presidency," West said.

Immigration has been a difficult issue for the Romney, who said during the GOP primaries that he would not support the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act that would offer legal resident status for illegal immigrants who had avoided arrest and either joined the military or enrolled in college. 

But Hispanic voters, who will play an important role in several swing states including Colorado, Florida, and Nevada, overwhelmingly support the DREAM Act, and polls show Romney faces a daunting deficit within that demographic.

During a campaign stop Friday, Romney said the president's move would make a long-term solution more difficult.

"I believe the status of young people who come here through no fault of their own is an important matter to be considered and should be solved on a long-term basis so they know what their future would be in this country," Romney said.

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