Letter Urges President to Enforce Existing Immigration Law

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) joined Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers and several other subcommittee chairs from the Appropriations Committee in sending a letter to President Barack Obama that opposes his handling of the surge of unaccompanied illegal minors crossing our borders. This population of individuals, usually from Central America, has grown from 6,000 in 2011 to 66,000 last year. By next year, this number is projected to climb as high as 150,000.

In the letter, the delegation called upon President Obama to enforce existing immigration laws and create deterrents that would disincentive potential illegal immigrants.

"While it initially went unnoticed, there is now a very apparent crisis at our borders," said Cole. "Due to the failed policy of the Administration, thousands of unaccompanied illegal minors are flocking to our nation, where they are overwhelming our facilities. Because the normal facilities are not able to manage this surge, the Administration is now allowing and ordering use of our military bases, including Fort Sill in Lawton, for housing these juveniles.

"Rather than only manage the flow, the president must address the reason for the sharp change in it. As the policy currently stands, once these individuals arrive in the United States, most of them are allowed to stay, which essentially incentivizes others to come and makes the problem even worse."

A copy of the letter sent to President Obama can be found here.

Additionally, Congressman Cole's recent remarks on the House floor about the crisis are available here.

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