Rep. Lou Barletta: Protect security, preserve U.S. jobs
When the White House criticized the federal ruling blocking the president's executive amnesty, the press secretary said, "The Supreme Court and Congress have made clear that the federal government can set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws."
In that simple sentence lies the problem with this administration. This president — or any other — does not embody the entire federal government. The Constitution also empowers two other branches: the judiciary and the legislature. This nation long ago rejected a monarchical form of government.
Indeed, President Obama said as much — on one of the 22 occasions when he claimed he did not have the power to grant amnesty — by saying, "I am president; I am not king. I can't do these things just by myself."
The Constitution contains no provision for any president to act unilaterally when he cannot find agreement in the legislature. The president cannot claim that Congress did not do what he wanted, and therefore act on his own outside the law. That is the realm of television and radio talk shows, and not the constitutional form of government that we have.
The president must enforce the laws as Congress wrote them, and not as he wished they had been written.
The House of Representatives has passed numerous immigration bills and believes that securing the border, protecting the interior and preserving American jobs must come before addressing those who have broken our laws to be present in this country.
Granting amnesty to millions of undocumented immigrants makes it impossible to process applicants and screen out those who might be a threat to this country. Likewise, the mass influx of newly legalized workers introduces new competition for legal workers who are already finding it difficult to find a job.
The United States has immigration laws for two basic reasons: to protect national security and to preserve American jobs. President Obama's unlawful executive actions violate both of those principles.
In short, the Texas judge's ruling is correct, and the lawsuit brought by 26 states — a majority — should be allowed to proceed.
Rep. Lou Barletta is a Republican from Pennsylvania.