Immigration
Throughout our history, the United States has drawn immigrants searching for opportunity and a share in the American Dream. 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.
Unfortunately, our current immigration system is broken and desperately needs comprehensive reform that puts America first by 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. I applaud President Trump for proposing real solutions to deal with the nation’s broken immigration system and to preserve America’s great standing and leadership in the world.
However, for any successful reforms to become law in divided government, bipartisanship is critical. As Congress considers reforms to update our immigration system, 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 look forward to working with the president to solve the urgent issues related to reform of and enforcement within our current immigration system.
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.