Walorski, Donnelly, Coats react to President's immigration action

President Barack Obama announced broad executive action Thursday night (Nov. 20) to offer temporary relief from deportation to millions of undocumented immigrants.

The following are statements from the Congressional delegation representing Pulaski County on the president's remarks:

Walorski statement on President Obama’s announcement of executive action on immigration

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) issued the following statement Thursday niight after President Obama’s announcement to act unilaterally on immigration reform:

“At a time when Americans want Washington to work together, I’m disappointed that instead of working with Congress to find real solutions, the president has decided to abuse his executive powers, break the law and ignore the Constitution at the expense of resolving a national crisis.

“This week, I joined with the Republican Women’s Policy Committee and sent a letter to President Obama urging him to abandon any unconstitutional executive actions on immigration reform and instead work with Congress and the people of this great nation.

“There is no question that the current immigration system is broken and there is a growing need for reform, but denying members of Congress and the American people an opportunity to offer any input only jeopardizes the chance of finding real, workable solutions.”

 

Donnelly statement on President Obama’s expected executive actions on immigration

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S.Sen. Joe Donnelly released the following statement Thursday afternoon in anticipation of President Obama’s announcement of Executive Actions relating to the country’s immigration system Thursday night.

“It is clear the immigration system in this country is broken, and only Congress has the ability to change the law to fix it. The Senate passed bipartisan immigration reform last summer with my support, though we are still waiting on the House to debate this issue.  I am as frustrated as anyone that Congress is not doing its job, but the President shouldn’t make such significant policy changes on his own.”

 

Coats releases video response to President’s immigration executive action

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Thursday released a video message regarding President Obama’s planned unilateral executive action on immigration.

“The Constitutional role of a U.S. President is to faithfully execute the law, not alter or ignore it as he sees fit,” said Coats. “President Obama’s actions to change existing law and grant amnesty via executive order exceed his Constitutional authority, ignore the wishes of the American people and contradict his past assertions that only Congress can set immigration policy.”

Click here or on the image below to view Coats’ reaction to President Obama’s executive action on immigration.