Immigration
Throughout our nation’s history, the United States has drawn immigrants searching for opportunity and a share in the American Dream. It is a massive testament to the United States that people around the world are eager to become a part of our country.
But just as we are a nation built largely and impressively by immigrants, America is also a nation of laws that must be obeyed and properly enforced to maintain order and ensure the safety of all citizens. Indeed, we must begin to fill in the gaps of where we are falling short in our immigration system and work to properly secure the border.
Unfortunately, our current immigration system is broken and desperately needs comprehensive reform that puts America citizens first. While not the only answer to border security, walls and barriers are effective when it comes to limiting the illegal movement of people and drugs across our borders. Indeed, we must propose real solutions to deal with strengthening security at the southern border, addressing the flood of illegal immigrants, improving enforcement of existing law and making the system fairer and more just for all.
However, any significant reforms to our existing immigration system should be bipartisan. As Congress considers any reforms, I will be guided by three basic principles: we must secure the border first; we must have tough sanctions for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants; and we must not reward those who broke our laws by providing them with amnesty. I also support elimination of the diversity lottery. In the days ahead, I remain hopeful that these urgent issues can be solved.
More on Immigration
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the Supreme Court upheld the ruling on blocking President Obama’s executive action on immigration. In United States v. Texas, the President’s Deferred Action plan would allow up to five million illegal immigrants avoid deportation.
Fortune - Steven T. Dennis
Paul Ryan’s on a roll. The new House speaker set Democrats back on their heels this week with a proposal to hit the pause button on the U.S. acceptance of Syrian refugees, even as he forcefully put down anti-Muslim sentiment on his party’s right flank.
As President Obama’s time left in office draws to a close, it’s clear that he’s grasping at any and all opportunities to leave a legacy. He has either refused to work with or negotiate with lawmakers in the present Congress or failed to encourage a previously split-party Congress to find compromise. With his loss of a Democrat-led Senate, the president has now shown that when met with opposition to his policies, his arrogant answer will be to bypass Congress and act alone.
At the end of last year and ahead of the 114th Congress, lawmakers in both chambers voted to fund the government and avert another painful and unnecessary shutdown. While the legislation funded nearly all areas of government through the end of the fiscal year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was only funded through February. This legislative strategy was enacted to allow the new majority in both chambers the opportunity to address the president’s unconstitutional executive order related to immigration and rightly block funding for its implementation.