In The News

President Obama adamantly stated at least 22 times over the past six years that he could not create his own immigration law. However, the week before Thanksgiving, our Commander- in- Chief issued what amounts to a royal decree, which pretends to legalize approximately 5 million people who entered the United States unlawfully.

Currently, minorities are suffering massive unemployment. So as the gap grows wider between the super rich and the working poor and as middle class wages continue stagnant, this President illegally and unconstitutionally adds another 5 million unauthorized aliens to compete for the sparse jobs which also cause wages to fall further. More than 92 million people of working age have given up even trying to find a job, so they are not counted in the unemployment rates. That ties the all time high record set by President Jimmy Carter. Add 5 million more to that and this President will stand alone by millions in the numbers he caused to hopelessly give up even looking for work. This President’s actions are single-handedly creating a constitutional crisis and hurting the citizens he took an oath to protect and defend. In fact, midterm election exit polling showed that 75 percent of Americans opposed a sweeping executive action and 80 percent rejected giving American jobs to foreign workers.

By a large majority, Americans want to see the border secured before any other reforms are done. A majority of Hispanics agree as well. Congress will be able to compromise on many important and needed immigration reforms. But until the border is secured, it is illogical to pass reforms which will require many amnesties in the future while the border remains open.

The argument that both Presidents Reagan and Bush issued an executive order regarding amnesty is disingenuous. In fact, their orders were done to carry out a newly passed law of Congress, not to create a new law itself. According to The Migration Policy Institute, Texas has the second most illegal immigrants eligible for Obama’s executive amnesty (743,000). They will apparently be eligible for both Medicare and Social Security which will cost our children and grandchildren money they haven’t even earned yet.

Under Obamacare, an employer of more than 50 employees must provide the mandated insurance or pay a fine of $3,000. However, because employers are not required to provide newly legalized workers with health insurance, employers can save at least $3,000 per employee if they dump U.S. citizen workers and hire the immigrants illegally in the country. In Great Britain and other countries, even legal immigrants are not eligible for any government benefits until they have paid into the system for a period of time. Not true for the immigrants who came illegally and are now rewarded by this royal decree.

It also seems a bit ironic that the President only wants to legalize people who have been violating the law for at least five years. In other words, if you are new at violating the law, this President does not want you. Regardless, it will likely only take signing a statement claiming presence here for five years without certain proof.

The Unites States Congress has the power of the purse, and it is time to stand on this authority given to the Legislative Branch by its founders. It has now been confirmed that Congress can completely defund the President’s illegal amnesty, regardless whether that money comes from fees or income tax revenue.

Now is not the time to surrender — it is the time to defund the President’s unconstitutional action while funding all of the rest of the government. In fact, it is time to defend the Constitution as every member of Congress swore to do.

Congressman Louie Gohmert is the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Prior to being elected to serve in Congress, Louie was elected to three terms as District Judge in Smith County, Texas.

Click here to view this article online