Speech #1130123264

Mr. Speaker. We are talking about immigration. And we are not talking about good immigration policy. because that is what we talk about in the Judiciary Committee. We are not talking about immigration law in this country. because that is what is decided in the House and the Senate. What we are talking about is the President taking action on his own in an end run around the Senate. an end run around the House. an end run around the Constitution and implementing immigration policy all by himself. He was asked about that in a Univision town hall. Mr. Speaker. It was March of 2011. and the question that was put to the President was: "Mr. President. my question will be as follows: With an executive order. could you be able to stop deportations of the students?" Fair question. Fair question. A lot of folks out there have this issue on their mind. It was March of 2011. and this is what President Barack Obama said in answer to the question: Mr. President. cant you just stop deportations by executive order? The President said this: "With respect to the notion that I can just suspend deportations with executive order. thats just not the case because there are laws on the books that Congress has passed." The President was right on that day in March. "I cant just do this by executive order." he told the questioner. "because there are laws on the books that Congress has passed." He says: "Congress passes the law. The executive branchs job is to enforce and implement those laws. Then the judiciary has to interpret those laws. There are enough laws on the books by Congress that are very clear in terms of how we have to enforce our immigration system that for me to simply. through executive order. ignore those congressional mandates would not conform with my appropriate role as President." Those are not my words. Mr. Speaker. Those are President Barack Obamas words. "There are enough laws on the books by Congress that are very clear"-very clear-"in terms of how we have to enforce our immigration system that for me to simply. through executive order. ignore those congressional mandates would not conform with my responsibilities as President." Now. that is powerful. Mr. Speaker. but that is not even the most interesting part of that response.