Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Oversight Hearing on: Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Priorities and the Rule of law

Statement

Over the past year, the Obama administration has made numerous announcements seeking to grant benefits to illegal immigrants and other removable immigrants without approval from Congress. These announcements are in defiance of both the constitutional separation of powers and the will of the American public. They are part of the administration's ongoing efforts to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants.

From the outset, this administration has failed to adequately enforce our immigration laws.

What makes this worse is that supporters of comprehensive or targeted amnesties for illegal immigrants have consistently failed to win approval from Congress or gain support from the American people.

Since comprehensive immigration reform has failed to pass in the legislative branch, the Obama administration has now decided to implement various programs that will benefit potentially millions of illegal immigrants.

What the president is doing is unfair to the 26 million American workers who are unemployed or underemployed. Amnesty is also unfair to those who are waiting to legally immigrate to the United States.

These administrative decisions will only attract more illegal immigrants looking for the same opportunity, and take more jobs from American workers. This policy makes no sense during a time of economic hardship and high unemployment.

It is Congress' job to create immigration policy and it is the President's job to enforce it. The administration's discretionary powers should be used only on a case-by-case basis in compelling circumstances. In its most recent announcement, the administration opened the door to the possible amnesty of 300,000 immigrants who are currently in the process of being deported. This is a clear abuse of discretion.

I, along with other members, have urged the administration to reverse this misguided policy.

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