Dear Friend,

I am disappointed and deeply concerned with President Obama’s decision to take executive action to change our nation’s immigration laws. This is an unprecedented abuse of the executive authority for which there is no basis in the rule of law. President Obama has even stated in the past that such actions would not be an appropriate use of constitutional authority.

A decision to affect immigration reform via executive action circumvents the legislative process and ignores the framework our founders set up. By taking the actions that he outlined last night, President Obama has already placed in jeopardy his relationship with the newly elected Congress before it has been sworn-in and just weeks after the November elections.

It is absolutely necessary for President Obama to work with the new Congress to address the issue of immigration reform. We need real solutions, not a quick fix. The president’s plan to take unilateral action is not an effective, long-term solution to our broken system.

I believe any discussion about immigration reform has to begin with border security and enforcement of current immigration law. One of the fundamental responsibilities of the federal government is to protect the homeland and that begins with knowing exactly who is coming in and out of the country.

Sincerely,
Kay Granger

By the way, earlier this week, I signed a letter to President Obama urging him to work with the newly elected Congress on immigration reform instead of taking executive action. To read the full letter, click here.