Executive Orders Regarding Immigration

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss
the President's executive orders on immigration, set to take effect in
mid-2015.

The Constitution, in article I, section 8, expressly grants the
legislature the sole authority to establish rules for naturalization.
Yet on November 20, 2014, the President announced new policies that
would enable a substantial portion of the unlawfully present alien
population to obtain relief from removal and work authorization.

In addition to substantive constitutional separation of power
concerns, the action raises national security implications and a range
of other potentially harmful consequences.

For this reason, in December, the House passed H.R. 83, which imposes
a February 27 funding sunset for the agencies responsible for carrying
out the President's orders.

While this limitation creates an opportunity for the new majority in
Congress to take action against the President's unilateral actions, my
colleagues on both sides of the aisle should want to protect the rule
of law, our constitutional separation of powers, and the best interests
of hardworking Americans. The American people deserve as much.

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