I have come to the Senate floor to speak out about a series of specific instances that exemplified the brazen lawlessness of this administration. This pervasive and illegitimate overreach has come in many different forms. With his recent move on immigration. President Obama seeks not only to prevent enforcement proceedings against millions of people unlawfully present in this country. but also to license their unlawful presence with affirmative work permits. In doing so. he not only ignores the dulyenacted laws of the land but also seeks to unilaterally replace them with his own contradicting policies. The President and his allies in this Chamber want nothing more than to turn this into a debate about immigration policy. but that is not what this debate is about. Immigration is a complex and divisive issue. and Americans hold a wide variety of views on the matter that dont always divide neatly along partisan lines. Many conservativesmyself includedshare some of the same policy goals as President Obama. Instead. this is a debate about loyalty. As Senators. where do our loyalties lie? Do we owe our loyalties first to the Constitution. to the protection of the American people. and to the goal of lawful and lasting immigration reform. or do we owe our loyalty. out of reflexive partisanship. to a President bent on dangerous unilateralism? President Obamas Executive action is a direct affront to our system of republican selfgovernment. The Constitution vests legislative authority with the Congress. not the President alone.
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work permits immigration Immigration