Immigration Executive Action: Republicans and Democrats

Roseville, Calif. – Another stark contrast of opposing sides on Obama’s Executive Action on Immigration, highlighted by two Republican Congressman Tom McClintock’s remarks and the California Democratic Party posted below. 

Congressman Tom McClintock today released the following statement in response to the President’s immigration speech:

Last night, the President asserted a power to nullify existing immigration law by ordering the executive branch to ignore it.  Further, he has ordered 34 million green cards to make possible the employment of illegal immigrants despite federal law that makes their employment a crime.  This is a direct violation of his responsibility under Article II to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” and a usurpation of legislative authority which Article I grants solely to Congress.

The rule of law established in our Constitution forbids the President from selecting which laws he will enforce and which he will ignore or from choosing who must obey the law and who is above the law.  It explicitly forbids him to make law by decree. This is the fundamental difference between a nation of laws and a nation of men.

Fortunately, the American Founders provided a variety of checks available to both the legislative and judicial branches.  I expect these will begin now to be invoked.

California Democratic Party current press release on President Obama’s Executive Action 
 
Statement of California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on President Obama’s Executive Action to Begin to Fix Our Broken Immigration System
 
Yesterday, President Obama made good on a promise he made to take executive action on immigration where Republicans in Congress have continually failed to do so.
 
For decades, Americans of all stripes have been calling for reform of our broken immigration system. Today, thanks to the advance work of countless organizations, volunteers and activists, that process begins.
 
The President is taking a multitude of actions to reform our broken immigration system, including strengthening security, focusing enforcement resources on those who commit violent crimes and ending the fear of being torn apart for millions of families across the nation.
 
California Democrats stand united in support of President Obama’s leadership.