Letter to President Obama
Letter
Dear Mr President,
Members of the bipartisan Immigration Reform Caucus along with member of the House vehemently oppose your August 18 2011 announcement to bypass Congress and use prosecutorial discretion to achieve amnesty to individuals who are illegally residing in the US. The manner with which your administration has introduced this policy not only robs the public of a thorough betting, but it also fails to appreciate the negative consequences of this policy shift.
Over the last several years, with the support of the American public, Congress has consistently defeated amnesty proposals for illegal aliens. This recent effort appears to be nothing more than an attempt to avoid public review and unilaterally impose amnesty by picking and choosing which laws to enforce; or in this case, not to enforce, thereby enabling illegal aliens to remain in the country.
In addition, we are convinced the consequences of implementing this policy, will include, but certainly not be limited to, the loss of public confidence and the encouragement of future illegal immigration. Even prior to this, the American public's confidence in the Administration to address illegal immigration was tenuous at best. This is evidenced by the number of states that have initiated and passed their own immigration enforcement laws. This shift in policy confirms the general public suspicion that the Administration is not serious about controlling illegal immigration.
Also, this policy has the added affect of further encouraging illegal immigration. Frankly put, if we don't take our own laws seriously enough to enforce, why should we expect anyone to follow them? This policy will introduce a new wave a illegal immigrants emboldened with the knowledge that not only is it okay to break the law, but they will likely be rewarded for it with de facto amnesty statues, thereby exacerbating an already vicious cycle we as a nation try been trying to address for over two decades.
This attempt to satisfy the narrow interests for the pro-amnesty lobby has ultimately earned the distrust of the greater American public. Our fear is that this policy will irreparably harm the prospects of true immigration reform for many years to come. Mr President, our request is simple: enforce our immigration laws evenly without passion, prejudice or preference.
Sincerely
Brian P Bilbray Ed Royce
Member of Congress Member of Congress
John Culberson Phil Gingrey
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Ted Poe Lou Barletta
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Paul Gosar Dana Rohrabacher
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Trent Franks Steven Palazzo
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Sue Myrick Walter Jones
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Micheal McCaul David Schweikert
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Mike Rogers Louie Gohmert
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Jeff Duncan Mo Brooks
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Joe Walsh Allen West
Member of Congress Member of Congress
John Duncan Gary Miller
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Doug Lamborn John Kline
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Ed Whitfield Tim Huelskamp
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Jeff Landry Elton Gallegly
Member of Congress Member of Congress
John Campbell Dan Burton
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Bill Huizenga Donald Manzullo
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Virginia Foxx Raul Labrador
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Geoff Davis Joe Wilson
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Lynn A Westmoreland Phil Roe
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Jeff Miller Adam Kinzinger
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Blaine Luetkemeyer Steve Stivers
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Alan Nunnelee Kenny Marchant
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Marsha Blackburn Sam Johnson
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Diane Black Andy Harris
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Micheal Fitzpatrick Spencer Bachus
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Ken Calvert Mike Kelly
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Larry Bucshon Dan Benishek
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Dennis Ross Sandy Adams
Member of Congress Member of Congress
James Lankford Scott DesJarlais
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Jean Schmidt Chip Cravaack
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Steve Womack Bill Posey
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Gus Bilirakis Tim Griffin
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Cory Gardner Frank Guinta
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Mike Pompeo Ben Quayle
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Jason Chaffetz Richard Nugent
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Vern Buchanan Blake Farenthold
Member of Congress Member of Congress
J Randy Forbes Tom Marino
Member of Congress Member of Congress
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