Executive Action on Immigration is the Wrong Approach, Byrne Says

Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) tonight issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s decision to go forward with executive action on immigration.

Byrne said: “Tonight, President Obama moved forward with executive action on immigration, the same type of action that he previously said would be ‘very difficult to defend legally’ and that ‘violated our laws.’ Of course this action will be difficult to defend; it raises serious legal questions and flies in the face of how our Founding Fathers intended our government to operate.

“We are a nation of laws, and there would never have been a right time for executive amnesty. In the elections earlier this month, the American people indicated they want the President to work with Congress to advance solutions, not act unilaterally through executive action.

“We need a deliberate discussion on securing our borders and dealing with illegal immigrants already in the United States, but executive action from a ‘lame duck’ President is entirely the wrong approach. I encourage the President to come down from the White House and work with Congress on the immigration issue and many of the other serious issues impacting American families.

“This type of executive action is not the way our government is supposed to operate. I am committed to working with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to push back against this action in a meaningful and constructive manner. We will not stand by idly and allow the President to continue to act against the intentions of the Constitution and the will of the American people.”

During his first month in office, Congressman Byrne declared that he was opposed “to any legislation that would grant amnesty to people who are here in violation of our laws.” Earlier this year, Congressman Byrne voted for legislation which would boost border security, expedite deportations, and prohibit the expansion of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Last week, Congressman Byrne signed a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers seeking to “prohibit funding for the president’s reported intentions to create work permits and green cards for undocumented immigrants living in the United States.”