WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) released the following statement after President Obama issued an executive order to effectively grant legal status to nearly five million illegal immigrants:

“We face a crisis across our nation as millions of illegal immigrants have streamed into our country, overwhelming our nation’s resources and often endangering the lives those who make the journey. The failure of this administration and past administrations to secure our border and fully enforce immigration law undermines our sovereignty, public safety, and the economic security of American citizens. I am very disappointed by the President’s decision to defy the Constitution and American law by issuing this executive order, which will only compound these problems by inviting more illegal border crossings.

“President Obama has acknowledged time and time again that the Constitution limits the authority of the executive branch to act unilaterally to change the law, yet he has decided to act contrary to his constitutional powers and without the consent of Congress to effectively grant legal status to nearly five million illegal immigrants. Once again, the President has chosen political expediency over working together, with a new duly-elected House and Senate, to fix our broken immigration system.

“In August, the House passed critical legislation to address the root causes of the crisis and stop the flow of illegal border crossings. These bills would send targeted resources to bolster our border security personnel, allow border states to deploy the National Guard, provide persons who illegally entered the country a safe, expeditious return to their home countries, and implement meaningful reforms that will discourage, rather than encourage, illegal immigration. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to stop this affront to our Constitution, to strengthen the security at our border, and to implement an immigration policy that is rooted in the rule of law.”