Senators Isakson, Perdue Continue to Challenge President Obama's Immigration Overreach

Press Release

U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) joined a group of 43 Senators in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the legal challenge against President Obama's immigration overreach. On April 18, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the lawsuit filed by Georgia and a majority of states challenging the Obama Administration's 2014 attempt to unilaterally grant legal status to millions of immigrants.

"President Obama's attempt to circumvent Congress by executive order and grant legal status to millions is unconstitutional and unacceptable," said Senator Isakson. "I have fought against this unlawful proposal from day one and will continue to use any and all options to stop the President from implementing his unconstitutional executive amnesty. If Congress must use the courts to force the President to follow the laws he has sworn to uphold, then so be it."

"Over the past seven years, we have seen President Obama abuse his authority and act unilaterally to change our country's immigration laws," said Senator Perdue. "It is time for this to stop. I applaud Georgia and a majority of states for coming together to stand up against President Obama's unconstitutional executive amnesty. As we have seen, there are real national security risks associated with illegal immigration, sanctuary cities, and executive amnesty, and I promised Georgians I will fight on their behalf against this lawlessness. I will not rest until we secure our border and restore the rule of law to our country."

The U.S. Supreme Court took up this case (United States of America vs. State of Texas) after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in November of 2015 affirmed a previous decision by a federal district court in Brownsville, Texas, to halt the Obama Administration from moving forward with its executive actions on immigration that are in violation of federal law.

Background:

In December 2014, following President Obama's executive actions on immigration including halting the deportations of millions of illegal immigrants, Georgia and a group of states, led by Texas, filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging his overreach.

On February 17, 2015, a federal judge temporarily blocked President Obama's unilateral immigration actions. Since then, political appointees at the Justice Department have filed an appeal to lift the injunction.

Previously, Isakson and Perdue supported an amicus brief filed in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Georgia and 25 other states, arguing that the President's unilateral, deferred-action programs for unlawful immigrants are unconstitutional and are contrary to congressional intent. Oral arguments were heard by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on April 17, 2015.

Source