June
22, 2012
Blog
by: Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S (AZ-01)
Next time you happen to walk past the White House, remember that the best way to enter is not through the front gate, but through the back door. Our president views immigration policy the same way. President Obama last week ushered in a new era of de facto amnesty by offering work permits and relief from deportation to 800,000 illegal immigrants. He decided that any alien under the age of thirty, so long as they meet a list of criteria, can no longer be deported. Not only that, but they can now also apply for work permits. What the administration claims as progress in U.S. immigration policy is really an undermining of the immigration process and the American Constitution.
Our country has
always had open arms for people from all different walks of life, and from all
corners of the globe. But first, however, we are a nation of laws, not of men.
Our new immigrants need to respect the rule of law. Our president must be held
accountable to the rule of law. The question we must ask ourselves though is how
does the President’s action affect the immigrants who come to this country and
go through the proper process to become a naturalized citizen? Many have filed
out the “N-400 form” for naturalization, and have been waiting for their turn to
enjoy the rights and the responsibilities that are a part of being a U.S.
citizen. This is a country where those who abide by the law and work hard are
rewarded. What message does this send to future immigrants or even our
children? Those who are currently going through the naturalization process see
the President—of the very country that promotes freedom and equality—ignore the
rules that they worked tirelessly to learn and follow.
Last Friday, President Obama claimed “this is not amnesty”, however, it is in fact de facto amnesty and calling it by another name does not change the facts. More importantly, it is a circumvention of the Constitution’s powers afforded to Congress. Congress directly represents the people, and it is for this reason that Congress alone was designated by our founding fathers to create laws. For the president to assert his dream of immigration reform through the use of executive order, rather than the legislative process, is reprehensible. In 2010, the Dream Act failed to make it through the legislative process; however, it at least went through the appropriate branch of government. I would expect such heavy handed actions of forced law from a monarch, but I would never expect it from the leader of the free world.
At a time when 8.2% of Arizona’s population is unemployed, 800,000 more aliens coming into the work-force through the Obama amnesty permit process will make it much more difficult for legal, hard-working Arizonans to find jobs. The competition extends beyond the workforce to the classroom. Admission slots and financial aid for many hopefully college bound citizens and legal immigrants will now be decreased with this influx of the new Obama aliens. While I understand that many of these immigrants are hard-working, good people, it does not excuse President Obama from manipulating our immigration program, undermining Congress and the Constitution, and usurping the rule of law.
Last Friday, President Obama claimed “this is not amnesty”, however, it is in fact de facto amnesty and calling it by another name does not change the facts. More importantly, it is a circumvention of the Constitution’s powers afforded to Congress. Congress directly represents the people, and it is for this reason that Congress alone was designated by our founding fathers to create laws. For the president to assert his dream of immigration reform through the use of executive order, rather than the legislative process, is reprehensible. In 2010, the Dream Act failed to make it through the legislative process; however, it at least went through the appropriate branch of government. I would expect such heavy handed actions of forced law from a monarch, but I would never expect it from the leader of the free world.
At a time when 8.2% of Arizona’s population is unemployed, 800,000 more aliens coming into the work-force through the Obama amnesty permit process will make it much more difficult for legal, hard-working Arizonans to find jobs. The competition extends beyond the workforce to the classroom. Admission slots and financial aid for many hopefully college bound citizens and legal immigrants will now be decreased with this influx of the new Obama aliens. While I understand that many of these immigrants are hard-working, good people, it does not excuse President Obama from manipulating our immigration program, undermining Congress and the Constitution, and usurping the rule of law.
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