Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) in conjunction with the American Center for Law and Justice today filed an
amicus brief with the 5
th Circuit Court of Appeals in support of a continued injunction against President Obamas executive overreach on immigration in the case of
Texas v. United States. The amicus brief states that the Presidents unilaterally created deferred action programs for unlawful immigrants are unconstitutional and are contrary to congressional intent. A total of 88 Members of Congress and 25 Senators signed the brief.
In December numerous states led by the State of Texas filed a
lawsuit in federal court challenging President Obamas executive overreach on immigration and Senator Cornyn Senator Cruz Chairman Goodlatte and Congressman Smith signed an
amicus brief submitted to the federal court in support of the states lawsuit. On February 17 2015 a federal judge temporarily blocked President Obamas unilateral immigration actions. Since then political appointees at the Justice Department have filed an appeal to lift the injunction. Oral arguments were heard by the 5
th Circuit Court of Appeals on April 17 2015.
Senator Cornyn Senator Cruz Chairman Goodlatte and Congressman Smith issued the statements below after filing this brief in federal court.
Senator Cornyn: President Obamas unconstitutional immigration actions are an affront to the rule of law. Judge Hanen correctly ruled that the President exceeded his authority when he circumvented Congress to rewrite our immigration laws and I am confident future courts will agree.
Senator Cruz: Twenty-two times President Obama told Americans that he did not have the power to grant unilateral amnesty. And yet the President has unlawfully granted amnesty to millions who came here illegally. A federal judge rightfully ruled against his actions and I hope the Court of Appeals affirms this decision. President Obamas amnesty is in defiance of the people and of Congress and I am proud to stand with my colleagues in defense of the rule of law.
Chairman Goodlatte: President Obamas decision to ignore the limits placed on his power and act unilaterally to rewrite our nations immigration laws are an affront to the Constitution. The President himself stated over 20 times that he does not have the authority to change immigration laws on his own yet he did so anyway. Such lawlessness must be stopped so that we preserve the separation of powers in the Constitution and protect individual liberty.
Congressman Smith: We will continue to stand with the American people the rule of law and our Constitution. I am encouraged by todays strong congressional support for the Texas-led 26-state lawsuit seeking to stop the presidents executive immigration actions. I urge the courts to check the overreaching power of the executive branch. We must do everything possible to halt the presidents unprecedented and unreasonable actions.
