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Congressman Tom Cole

Representing the 4th District of Oklahoma

Immigration

America is a land of opportunity and a country that has always been comprised of immigrants searching for the promise of the American Dream. Just as we are a nation of immigrants, America is also a nation of laws, and those laws must be obeyed and enforced in order to maintain our social compact with one another as citizens of the United States. Therefore, securing our borders and stopping the flood of illegal immigrants must be a top priority for our nation.

Executive Orders

Without question, the flood of illegal immigrants at the southern border is due to the President Obama’s refusal to enforce our laws. I believe we should prioritize helping those who follow the legal process for coming to the United States and that the Administration should return those who enter America illegally to their country of origin as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the president has chosen to evade Congress and act unilaterally and illegally. I strongly oppose his unconstitutional actions and the impact they will have on day-to-day life in Oklahoma. And I have supported successful efforts to stop the president's unconstitutional overreach in the courts. 

Sanctuary Cities

Certain Obama Administration policies have permitted local governments to ignore federal statutes and create “Sanctuary Cities” where illegal immigrants do not fear deportation based solely on their immigration status. The fact that President Obama supports any such policy anywhere in the United States is shameful. Recent events have shown that criminal aliens have used these areas as safe havens to avoid detection and deportation. For those reasons, I support legislation to protect our communities from illegal aliens and prevent state or local governments from ignoring federal law.  

Border Security

Our nation has many brave men and women who are working tirelessly to protect our borders. Their fight against illegal immigration is complex and ever-changing. To provide better enforcement, our border agents need access to innovative equipment and technology. They also need special instruction and training to do the important job of keeping our borders secure. That’s why I have supported legislation and policies to better equip, train and fund our border agent programs.

E-Verify

I support protecting businesses and American workers using verification systems that instantly check a worker's legal status; some states have instituted e-Verify. Employers should have the best tools to check an applicant’s work status quickly, accurately and efficiently. In addition, employers who knowingly hire illegal workers should be prosecuted.

More on Immigration

June 23, 2016 Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the Supreme Court upheld the ruling on blocking President Obama’s executive action on immigration. In United States v. Texas, the President’s Deferred Action plan would allow up to five million illegal immigrants avoid deportation.

November 19, 2015 News Stories

Fortune - Steven T. Dennis

Paul Ryan’s on a roll. The new House speaker set Democrats back on their heels this week with a proposal to hit the pause button on the U.S. acceptance of Syrian refugees, even as he forcefully put down anti-Muslim sentiment on his party’s right flank.

June 1, 2015 Weekly Columns

As President Obama’s time left in office draws to a close, it’s clear that he’s grasping at any and all opportunities to leave a legacy. He has either refused to work with or negotiate with lawmakers in the present Congress or failed to encourage a previously split-party Congress to find compromise. With his loss of a Democrat-led Senate, the president has now shown that when met with opposition to his policies, his arrogant answer will be to bypass Congress and act alone.

March 3, 2015 Speech

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) made remarks on the House floor before the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of the fiscal year: 

January 19, 2015 Weekly Columns

At the end of last year and ahead of the 114th Congress, lawmakers in both chambers voted to fund the government and avert another painful and unnecessary shutdown. While the legislation funded nearly all areas of government through the end of the fiscal year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was only funded through February. This legislative strategy was enacted to allow the new majority in both chambers the opportunity to address the president’s unconstitutional executive order related to immigration and rightly block funding for its implementation.

November 20, 2014 Press Release
Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after President Barack Obama addressed the nation, announcing that he will grant executive amnesty to approximately 5 million illegal immigrants.
August 4, 2014 Press Release
Norman, OK – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after learning that Fort Sill Military Base is expected to discontinue housing unaccompanied illegal minors by Friday, August 8. In response to the surge of these unaccompanied minors at the southern borders coming from Central America, the Administration had ordered the use of three military facilities.
August 1, 2014 Press Release
Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 5230, Making Supplemental Appropriations FY 2014, to addresses the president’s emergency request for dealing with the border crisis.
July 29, 2014 Press Release
Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after the House working group unveiled its proposal to address the influx of unaccompanied illegal minors along the southern border. In response to the president’s $3.7 billion request, the working group instead recommended only $659 million and set forth conditions for actually dealing with the cause of the problem.
July 21, 2014 News Stories

NewsOK - Chris Casteel

Members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation said Monday they don’t want Fort Sill, the U.S. Army artillery post near Lawton, used to house unaccompanied alien children past the October deadline.

The delegation’s comments came after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel approved a request from the Health and Human Services Department to house up to 5,000 more minors on military bases. Hagel had previously approved housing for up to 3,600 children. Hagel also approved a request that bases be used until the end of January.

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