Letter to The Honorable Barack H. Obama, President of the United States

Letter

Today, Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) announced she sent a letter along with other Members of Congress to President Obama urging him to fight against the HALT Act, legislation recently introduced that would prevent Obama from using his already-existing executive powers to suspend deportations of undocumented immigrants who would have benefited under DREAM Act, have family members who are U.S. Citizens or are serving in the military, or whose circumstances warrant leniency or special consideration.

"I am the proud daughter of immigrants, and it breaks my heart to hear of families pulled apart by our broken immigration system," said Rep. Eshoo. "Families shouldn't be treated like a political football. I support Presidential action to stop existing deportations of those who would have benefited from legislation like the DREAM Act. These are families, these are bright young students, and these are people whose loved ones serve in the military. They are not criminals.

"The President has the ability to target immigration enforcement towards the worst criminals and security threats, rather than families. But legislation pending in Congress would take those powers away. That isn't right, and it isn't fair to the families it would break apart. It's time for the President to take action, and I stand ready to support him when he does."

Rep. Eshoo sent the letter, along with 61 other Members of Congress, to President Obama. The full text of the letter sent is below:

Dear Mr. President:

The so-called HALT Act (H.R. 2497), proposed legislation with the dubious title the "Hinder the Administration's Legalization Temptation" Act, is a direct attack on your judgment, knowledge of the law, and ability to apply the laws of the United States firmly and equitably for the benefit of the American people. We, the undersigned, want it to be absolutely, crystal clear that we stand with you against such deceitful, mean-spirited, and partisan attacks.

Regardless of our varying views on the complex issue of immigration and how to reform the current system, we feel the introduction of this legislation by leaders of the Republican Party is an attack on your integrity that should not pass unnoticed or unopposed.

The HALT Act would rescind powers granted by Congress to the Executive to target immigration enforcement resources at the worst criminals, drug dealers, gangsters, and security threats by taking away all of the prosecutorial discretion you possess under the law. It restricts the ability of our immigration enforcement system to take the particular circumstances of any individual -- or the circumstances of any particular group or nationality -- into consideration when determining who is a priority for deportation or other penalty under our immigration laws.

However, the proposed legislation would not alter the powers of the Executive Branch permanently, but rather only until the day after the next presidential inauguration, January 21, 2013. One of the authors of the bill recently wrote, "While this authority is justifiable when used responsibly on a case-by-case basis, it's clear the Obama Administration plans not to use but to abuse these powers."

Tying your hands and that of our law enforcement and border security authorities in order to score political points is a new low. It brings new meaning to the term "playing politics," but in this case has severe consequences for national security and community safety.

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, you determined that a temporary suspension of deportations to Haiti was in the best interest of the American people and the Haitian people. You were absolutely correct in that determination, yet that power would be suspended by the new bill, if it passes, until the day after the next inauguration.

In certain circumstances, your Administration has legally set deportation or other immigration penalties aside when it is in the best interest of the American people. For example, when a deportable alien has family members that are U.S. citizens -- including active duty military -- who would face extreme hardship if a deportation went forward and the particular circumstances warrant leniency or special consideration, your Administration has made such determinations. Yet the powers you have exercised cautiously on a limited and case-by-case basis, would be suspended by the new bill, if it passes, until the day after the next inauguration.

We, the undersigned, support you in your efforts to apply the law and exercise sound judgment to determine what is in the best interest of the American people so that our nation is prosperous and safe.

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