Immigration
America is a land of opportunity and a country that has always been comprised of immigrants searching for the promise of the American Dream. Just as we are a nation of immigrants, America is also a nation of laws, and those laws must be obeyed and enforced in order to maintain our social compact with one another as citizens of the United States. Therefore, securing our borders and stopping the flood of illegal immigrants must be a top priority for our nation.
Executive Orders
Without question, the flood of illegal immigrants at the southern border is due to the President Obama’s refusal to enforce our laws. I believe we should prioritize helping those who follow the legal process for coming to the United States and that the Administration should return those who enter America illegally to their country of origin as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the president has chosen to evade Congress and act unilaterally and illegally. I strongly oppose his unconstitutional actions and the impact they will have on day-to-day life in Oklahoma. And I have supported successful efforts to stop the president's unconstitutional overreach in the courts.
Sanctuary Cities
Certain Obama Administration policies have permitted local governments to ignore federal statutes and create “Sanctuary Cities” where illegal immigrants do not fear deportation based solely on their immigration status. The fact that President Obama supports any such policy anywhere in the United States is shameful. Recent events have shown that criminal aliens have used these areas as safe havens to avoid detection and deportation. For those reasons, I support legislation to protect our communities from illegal aliens and prevent state or local governments from ignoring federal law.
Border Security
Our nation has many brave men and women who are working tirelessly to protect our borders. Their fight against illegal immigration is complex and ever-changing. To provide better enforcement, our border agents need access to innovative equipment and technology. They also need special instruction and training to do the important job of keeping our borders secure. That’s why I have supported legislation and policies to better equip, train and fund our border agent programs.
E-Verify
I support protecting businesses and American workers using verification systems that instantly check a worker's legal status; some states have instituted e-Verify. Employers should have the best tools to check an applicant’s work status quickly, accurately and efficiently. In addition, employers who knowingly hire illegal workers should be prosecuted.
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.