After President Barack Obama’s controversial address last night announcing his executive order regarding immigration policy, American Family Association (www.afa.net) says Congress must use the power of the purse to check the president’s unconstitutional overreach.
During his national address, the president communicated his intent to grant work permits to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States and to protect them from deportation. Congressional leaders and opponents of the president’s plan have already said they will act, but questions remain regarding what form this action will take.
AFA is urging Congress to stop the president’s overreach through continuing resolutions that withhold funding from his proposals.
“This is not simply a matter of disagreeing with the president on immigration policy,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon, “It is a matter of the gross abuse and overreach of power by the White House. The Constitution is very clear that the sole authority to establish immigration policy rests with Congress, not with the president. The president has had six years to work with Congress, including two years when his party controlled the legislative branch. Now, having neglected to achieve his goal constitutionally, he has announced his intent to flatly ignore the Constitution and legislate from the Oval Office. This is precisely why Congress must act to oppose this executive order and protect its own constitutionally given authority.”
Wildmon also noted that Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) recent suggestion that the Senate withhold confirmation of nominees if the president proceeds with his plan is also a tool worth considering to halt the president’s unconstitutional overreach.
The proposed measure could make as many as 5 million people eligible for work permits, with the broadest action aimed at extending deportation protections to parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as long as those parents have been in the country for at least five years, according to news reports. Others affected will include young immigrants who entered the country illegally as children. They will be protected under a previously expired 2012 directive that’s expected to be expanded. Changes also are expected to law enforcement programs and business visas.
