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
The Oklahoman - Editorial Board
Over the course of this year, as many as 90,000 minors fleeing crime- and poverty-ridden Central American countries could be given haven in the United States. Few will ever return to their homeland, prompting U.S. Rep. Tom Cole to say this week: “We need to have some frank policy discussions.”
The Oklahoman - Rick Green and Chris Casteel
Hundreds of young people who came across the southern U.S. border illegally are expected to begin arriving this week at Fort Sill, where they will be housed temporarily.
“Our target date to begin receiving children at Fort Sill is Friday, June 13,” Kenneth J. Wolfe, spokesman for the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said Monday.
News9 - Michael Konopasek
Questions remained unanswered late Monday over what will come of more than 600 illegal juvenile immigrants on their way to Oklahoma from Texas and Arizona.
Federal officials said the children, who could be living at Ft. Sill for up to four months, could be at the post as early as Tuesday morning.
"As far as the financial [impact], it's putting more [of a] burden here," Lawton resident Cedric Lax said.
KFOR - Jesse Wells
A plan to house hundreds of illegal immigrants at an Oklahoma military base comes under fire.
Officials at Fort Sill announced they would help house somewhere between 600 and 1,200 children.
Those kids are in our country illegally.
That’s sparked two criticisms from Republicans.
They don’t like military bases being used for non military needs and they’re critical of President Obama’s immigration policies.
“It is alarming to have 1200 children in a military installation,” said governor Mary Fallin.
KSWO News 7
As many as 1,200 illegal immigrant children could be coming to live at fort sill as soon as Friday.
Over the past two years, the number of unaccompanied minors has spiked dramatically from 6,000 to more than 66,000, and it's believed by 2016 that number will soar to more than 140,000. Now, the governor is speaking out against the decision to place some of them on post.
Bloomberg - Kathleen Hunter & Roxana Tiron
Movement on gun control and immigration in the U.S. Senate obscures an inevitable roadblock to either measure: a resistant Republican-run House.
Obstacles in the House of Representatives to expanding background checks for gun buyers may be enough to scuttle an initiative that President Barack Obama has pressed in the aftermath of the Newtown, Connecticut, school shootings.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Tom Cole (OK-4) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress due to his repeated refusal to cooperate with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's investigation into Operation Fast and Furious:
More than one year after the congressional investigation into "Operation Fast and Furious" began, Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice continue to obstruct all efforts to bring accountability to those responsible for the disastrous gun-walking operation that left one Border Patrol agent dead and put hundreds of weapons in the hands of dangerous Mexican drug cartels.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) today issued the following statement after the Obama Justice Department filed a lawsuit to block implementation of Arizona's immigration law:
"Arizona was forced to act because of President Obama's failure to enforce federal immigration laws, and this lawsuit can't hide that fact. Undermining state laws will not make the country safer. Rather than waste time and taxpayer money suing Arizona, the Obama administration should focus on securing the border."
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