Congressman Marino Responds to President Obama’s Executive Actions on Immigration

Nov 20, 2014 Issues: Congressional Issues, Economy and Jobs, Foreign Affairs

FOR IMMIEDIATE RELEASE

November 20, 2014

Congressman Marino Responds to President Obama’s Executive Actions on Immigration

Washington D.C.—Congressman Tom Marino, PA-10, Lycoming County issued the following response to President Barack Obama’s announcement of his plans to initiate new executive actions to address America’s current illegal immigrant population:

“I am deeply disappointed and frankly enraged by this disrespect and disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the American people. The judicial branch should be prompted to nullify the president’s actions. This order is more than just an overstep; this is a direct affront to our system of coequal branches of government. When school children across the country study civics and foundations of American government, what they will see of this president’s actions will be completely incongruent.

Meanwhile, my colleagues in the House and Senate should provide a robust plan to increase and maintain border security. Immigration reform is a top priority, and it starts with border security. Unfortunately, if a plan for security and reform plan were to pass out of the 114th Congress and land on the president’s desk, I fear he would still veto it.

The lame-duck president has chosen to issue this massive executive action that will only make the illegal immigration situation worse. This announcement will magnetize even more people to our porous borders. It will certainly reward illegal behavior as well. Granting an immigrant status of this sort loudly sends a message to noncitizens that it is ok to enter our country illegally, gain employment illegally and reside here illegally. It gives a sweeping pass to those who violated several laws and it is unacceptable regardless of motivation for immigrating.

Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution clearly gives the legislative branch authority to create laws regarding immigration and the naturalization of citizens. Regardless, the president and his Democrat majority in the first years of his presidency did absolutely nothing to address the crisis we now face. Now with a long list of failures and two midterm election shellackings, the president’s action reeks of desperation and further outlines just how out-of-balance our government is."

###