WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Wednesday sent a letter to Sen. Harry Reid, D-NV, the outgoing Senate Majority Leader, signed by Sens. Mike Crapo, R-ID; Mike Lee, R-UT; Pat Roberts, R-KS; Jeff Sessions, R-AL; and David Vitter, R-LA expressing opposition to President Obama’s announced intention to take unilateral executive action by the end of this year to lawlessly grant amnesty to immigrants who have entered the country illegally.
“The Supreme Court has recognized that ‘over no conceivable subject is the power of Congress more complete’ than its power over immigration,” the letter said. “Therefore, President Obama will be exercising powers properly belonging to Congress if he makes good on his threat. This will create a constitutional crisis that demands action by Congress to restore the separation of powers.”
The letter continued: “As majority leader of the Senate, you have the responsibility of not only representing the citizens of your State, but also of protecting the Constitution through vigilant exercise of the checks and balances provided under the Constitution. Therefore, we write to offer our full assistance in ensuring expeditious Senate debate and passage for a measure that preserves the power of Congress by blocking any action the President may take to violate the Constitution and unilaterally grant amnesty; however, should you decline to defend the Senate and the Constitution from executive overreach, the undersigned Senators will use all procedural means necessary to return the Senate’s focus during the lame duck session to resolving the constitutional crisis created by President Obama’s lawless amnesty.”
The text of the letter is below:
November 5, 2014
Senator Harry Reid
Majority Leader
S-221, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Leader Reid:
We write to express our alarm with President Obama’s announced intention to take unilateral executive action by the end of this year to lawlessly grant amnesty to immigrants who have entered the country illegally. The Supreme Court has recognized that “over no conceivable subject is the power of Congress more complete” than its power over immigration. Therefore, President Obama will be exercising powers properly belonging to Congress if he makes good on his threat. This will create a constitutional crisis that demands action by Congress to restore the separation of powers.
As majority leader of the Senate, you have the responsibility of not only representing the citizens of your State, but also of protecting the Constitution through vigilant exercise of the checks and balances provided under the Constitution. Therefore, we write to offer our full assistance in ensuring expeditious Senate debate and passage for a measure that preserves the power of Congress by blocking any action the President may take to violate the Constitution and unilaterally grant amnesty; however, should you decline to defend the Senate and the Constitution from executive overreach, the undersigned Senators will use all procedural means necessary to return the Senate’s focus during the lame duck session to resolving the constitutional crisis created by President Obama’s lawless amnesty.
Why don’t they just enact some immigration legislation to address the problems? Just more showboating.
@Mediator-they would and they will once Harry Reid is no longer in control.
The house has already passed some immigration bills but as LVS has stated, they are sitting on reids desk, passed the house with votes from both parties.
It appears they need a better bill, then. They need to do their jobs, not wait for the next congress and then blame the administration for acting. They (collectively) are in control and want to play the blame game.
I tire of the blame game. If there’s things that both sides agree upon, then pass that part. Sticking partisan crapola on board to ensure it goes no where is just a way to manufacture a way to blame the next level that won’t pass it.
(To congress) Get to work!
I agree
Here’s one for you…
Search Yahoo news: Mexican cops shooting pregnant American gets no attention from Obama, Holder
While I do not generally agree with Cruz (he is to far to the right) this time I must agree. If is congress job to correct this issue. If Obama does this he should be brought up for impeachment for violating the constitution. They should work together for a compromise that both sides can live with. That is what politicians are supposed to do.
This will be interesting, let’s see how this goes.
Obama is going to do this, if Ried blocks this one for coming to a vote like he has everything else, before the new Senate and Congress is seated, there will be a Constitutional court challenge. We better start making calls to the White House like we did before. Amnesty is not the answer, we tried it once and got burned. Reagan signed amnesty when congress promised to secure the border. It never got secured.