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Congresswoman Betty McCollum logo

Rep. McCollum Statement on President Obama's Immigration Executive Action

November 21, 2014

"There are over 11 million undocumented immigrants in our country. We go to church together, shop in the same stores, our children attend school together and they are members of our community. These undocumented immigrants are forced to live in the shadows of our society even though many of their children are U.S. citizens. The current immigration system is not tenable and something must be done now.

Over the past seven years, Republicans in Congress have not only refused to rectify this broken system, but have done everything possible to block immigration reform. For example, in 2007, President George W. Bush pursued comprehensive immigration reform which I supported. Congressional Republicans refused to work with their own conservative president. In June 2013, Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate came together to pass a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill. Since then, House Republicans have refused to act on that bill or even allow it to be voted on. Time and again, my colleagues and I have called for this bill to be brought to the House floor for a vote. Time and again we were denied.

Why haven’t the Republicans allowed a vote on comprehensive immigration reform? The reason is simple: House Republicans have no interest in reforming an immigration system when they can exploit the current broken system and the 11 million people living in the shadows for their own political gain. Politically, they benefit at the polls from railing against immigration and immigrants.

In 1990, President George H.W. Bush, a Republican, took executive action granting deferred action status to 1.5 million undocumented people.

And so tonight President Obama is doing what he can to help millions of families in America, as his Republican predecessor did, rather than concede to the unwillingness of Republicans and do nothing.

I strongly support President Obama’s decision to take executive action allowing the undocumented parents of American citizens to work legally and pay taxes without fear of being deported. Millions of families will be helped by this action. It also shifts the focus of enforcement away from tearing apart families and instead targets resources against dangerous criminals.

These changes are common sense. They help families, they strengthen our economy, and they make our country safer. Tonight’s action by the President is not a replacement for Congressional action. The president’s ability to influence this issue is far more limited than Congress passing real immigration reform. Executive action cannot be a long-term replacement for the work we do here in Congress. As soon as House Republicans decide to stop demagoguing this issue for political gain, we will be able to work together on real reforms. But until then, I support President Obama’s decision to help millions of people escape the shadows and embrace the promise of seeking the American dream."