Supreme Court to Rule on Obama's Immigration Actions

Statement

The United State Supreme Court announced today it will consider a case challenging President Obama's executive actions on illegal immigration. At issue are two executive actions the President issued in late 2014. The first action issued by the President is known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans or DAPA. It stops the government from deporting illegal immigrants temporarily and offers work permits to the parents of U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents. The second action is an expansion of the President's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program. It extends DACA protection to a greater number of high-achieving illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. prior to the age of 16. The President's actions could prevent the deportation of five million immigrants in the country illegally.

On May 12, Cramer joined 112 fellow U.S. Congressmen and U.S. Senators in filing an amicus brief urging a federal court to declare President Obama's executive action on illegal immigration unlawful and unconstitutional. The brief was filed by the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ). It supports the lawsuit filed by 26 states, including North Dakota, to challenge the president's actions. The court ruled against the President and halted the implementation of the his executive actions on immigration.

"President Obama's executive actions and orders on illegal immigration are clearly unconstitutional and violate the intent of Congress," said Cramer. "I hope a majority of the court will agree with the lower court and rule against the President."

In February 2015, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen, of Brownsville, Texas, ruled states had a legitimate basis to bring their case, blocking the programs from taking effect. According to media reports, the decision was based on Hanen's ruling the administration violated the federal law requiring a public comment period when new rules are established. In November, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 2-1 in favor of Hanen's injunction. The Supreme Court will hear the case this April with a ruling expected in June.

The brief, posted here, argues that President Obama's lawless executive action on immigration violates the Constitution and the intent of Congress. The complete list of lawmakers represented in the amicus brief is here.

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