Speech #1140082618

What a way House Republicans have chosen to celebrate St. Patricks Day. Today we pay tribute to the contributions of generations of Irish immigrants and their descendants to the fabric of America. Today we are reminded that ours is truly a nation of immigrantsthat immigrants have truly made America more American with their optimism. their hope. and their courage to come to America. and to make a future better for their families. That is what America is all about. and that is what immigrants have strengthened. We have spent this entire week with our Irish friends celebrating the heritage of immigrants in America. The Taoiseachthat would be the Prime Minister of Irelandwas here in the Capitol earlier in the week. He spoke about immigration last night at the dinner. In the letter that was read by the Irish Ambassador from the Taoiseach. he talked about immigration. Here on the floor of the House. we are talking about immigration in a totally negative way. Why would House Republicans want to spend St. Patricks Day in this insulting manner to Irish immigrants? House Republicans have brought forward a resolution authorizing the Speaker to file an antiimmigrant amicus brief with the Supreme Court. but they wont tell the House or the American people what they are planning to say in it. Given Republicans past positions and rhetoric. that raises serious questions: Will the Republicans yet again call for tearing apart families? Will they call for deporting DREAMers? Will they yet again suggest a religious test for prospective immigrants? Will they ask the Court to explore ending birthright American citizenship. as they did in their Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee hearing? Sadly. there is not much difference between the rhetoric of the Republican candidate for President and House Republicans when it comes to a record of appalling antiimmigrant statementsan agenda of discrimination. Furthermore. Republicans have denied House Democrats the opportunity to have a meaningful vote on our alternative amicus brief in support of the Presidents immigration executive actions. which we filed with the Court last week. 225 House and Senate Democrats. The fact is the Presidents immigration actions fall within the legal and constitutional precedent established by every administration. Republican and Democrat. since President Eisenhower. The fact is the President has the right to take these administrative actions under the law. and he also is following in the precedents of former Presidents to do so. I dont know if the Republicans were silent or didnt know what was going on when President Reagan went further in his administrative actions on immigration in terms of affecting a higher percentage of immigrants than President Obamas actions have affected. The President is acting because Congress has refused to act to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Even when the Republicans in the Senate had a bipartisan bill. it did not get the chance to have a vote in this House. So the President has acted.