Speech #1130121939

Mr. President. today I express my opposition to the Presidents plan to grant executive amnesty to 4 million to 5 million illegal immigrants residing in the United States. By circumventing Congress on immigration and instituting his will through executive actions. President Obama is eroding the very foundation of our country and form of government. This sets a dangerous precedent where future Presidents can flout any law they happen to disagree with and alter the law without going through Congress. Each branch of government is to act as a check against the others and not sit idly by as one exercises authority it does not have. A constitutional law professor should know that. I believe we all agree that our immigration system is brokenboth the legal system which allows individuals to visit and work in our country and the failures which continue to allow others to reside illegally within our borders. The first step we need to take to fix our system is to secure our borders and bolster interior enforcement. We cannot reduce illegal immigration without better border security and entry/exit enforcement measures. We also need to ensure that we have a strong. workable employment verification system in place. because if Congress can ensure that only authorized job seekers gain employment in this country. then we remove the incentive for illegal immigrationand we cannot grant those who are here illegally amnesty. Yet this week the President intends to circumvent the will of Congress by illegally granting amnesty to 4 millions to 5 million illegal immigrants. This cannot stand. The American people do not want it. some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have advocated against it. and the President himself has said more than 20 times that he does not have the authority to take this action.