Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia and other Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee wrote President Barack Obama to demand that he make public the recommendations he has received for implementing executive amnesty without Congress’ approval. Last week, Obama said he had received recommendations from Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Attorney General Eric Holder.
The following are excerpts from the letter:
“Since you have postponed these executive actions until after the midterm elections, you will have ample time to consider the ideas put forth by Secretary Johnson and others before you make any decisions to fundamentally alter how our immigration laws are enforced, grant immigration benefits to millions of unlawful immigrants, or otherwise modify how our immigration laws are interpreted. You have made clear that you will take such actions without the passage of any legislation by Congress, and therefore without the input of the American public’s representatives.
“Whether it’s now or November, it is never acceptable for the Executive Branch to ignore the Constitution and unilaterally give amnesty to unlawful immigrants…Rather than attempt to hide these actions from the American people until after the midterm elections, Americans should be given the chance to come to their own conclusions as to the merits of these recommendations. They can then exercise their constitutional right to petition the federal government and let you know their opinions. We therefore ask that you immediately release to the public all the recommendations that you have received for administrative action – from Secretary Johnson, from Attorney General Holder, and from the interest groups with whom you and your Administration have met.”
The letter, led by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, is signed by Representatives Howard Coble (R-N.C.), Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), Ted Poe (R-Texas), Tom Marino (R-Pa.), George Holding (R-N.C.), Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Trent Franks (R-Az.), Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Steve King (R-Iowa), Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Randy Forbes (R-Va.), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
