LAMAR SMITH: Obama Threatening New Actions is Outside of His Authority

On Closure of Illegal Immigrant Shelter at Lackland Air Force Base Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Im glad to hear that the Obama Administration plans to stop housing illegal immigrants at military facilities like Lackland Air Force Base. Were it not for the presidents policies these facilities would never have had to house the 1000s whove come across our Southern border. Now he must address the root of the borders problems - his own policies said Cong. Lamar Smith after news that several shelters for illegal immigrants on military bases including Lackland are expected to close in the coming weeks. 

I hope the president will listen to the American people and act today to enforce current immigration laws and prevent further increases in the border surge" said Smith. In addition to ending the use of military bases as shelters the president should focus on enforcing current immigration laws rather than threatening new actions outside of his authority. He has repeatedly threatened to take even more unlawful actions to expand amnesty and make the current border problems worse. The only actions he should take in the coming weeks are to enforce current immigration laws and reverse his policies that got us into this mess in the first place Smith said. Many Americans support the common-sense provisions within the House bills that were passed last week and an overwhelming majority do not think the president is doing a good job of handling immigration issues.

The House package that passed on Friday:

• Prohibits housing unauthorized immigrants on military bases if doing so will displace active duty military personnel or interfere with military activities at the installation.
• Includes language to end the expansion of President Obamas DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) policy.
• Would close loopholes in existing laws and allow Central American minors to be treated the same as Canadian and Mexican minors with regard to expedited deportations.

A recent Associated Press- GfK Public Affairs poll showed that a majority of participants favored changing current law so that illegal immigrants from other countries are treated the same as those from Mexico or Canada which can be sent back to their home countries without a deportation hearing. Smith also recently sent a letter to President Obama listing actions he could immediately take to improve the situation along the border. The letter was signed by all 24 Texas Republican Members of the House of Representatives and both Senators.