Obama: Patchwork immigration policy unacceptable

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says he agrees that more control must be exerted over illegal immigration, but he won't accept ``a patchwork of 50 different states'' acting on their own.

Obama tells CBS he believes immigration control advocates ``are absolutely correct.'' But he also says ``what we can't do is demagogue the issue.'' The president tells anchor Harry Smith he wants to ``work with Arizona,'' while insisting that national immigration policy cannot be left to ``anybody who wants to make a name for themselves.''

Arizona has appealed a federal judge's ruling striking down key provisions of its law reining in illegal immigration. A federal appeals court has decided not to immediately get into the case, leaving the state to consider other steps it might take in the meantime.