The President has the authority, through the attorney general, to allow states to deport illegals- It appears that Mr. cain is saying he would exercise that authority.
When it articulates the proviso that the state must comply with federal law in administering any enforcement- he is merely expressing the necessary predicate that undergirds that delegation of authority.
But he said it would be their choice. If Cain was President, I would expect the feds would be deporting them all. We wouldn’t want to let some states decide NOT to deport illegals, while other states DID.
How would that work? Would it just be luck-of-the draw, if you were illegal but happened to be in a “good” state, you’d stay, but if you were in the “wrong” state you’d get deported? Or could a state allow you a week to clear out to another state?