President Barack Obama announced an executive action in November of 2014 intended to circumvent Congress and allow an estimated 5 million illegal immigrants avoid deportation. The president's disregard for Congress and thinly disguised push for amnesty has added immigration to an ever-growing list of scandals attributed to the Obama administration.
In addition to other provisions, the executive action would provide illegal immigrants, who have been in the United States for more than five years and have children who are legal residents, a three-year work permit. Under the guise of a humanitarian push to "come out of the shadows," they would be allowed to apply for a Social Security number, as well as a driver's license.
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Here are 11 key quotes from the Obama executive action immigration scandal:
1. "The biggest problems that we're facing right now have to do with [the president] trying to bring more and more power into the executive branch and not go through Congress at all. And that's what I intend to reverse when I'm president of the United States of America." Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign.
2. "Believe me - believe me, the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting. I promise you. Not just on immigration reform. But that's not how - that's not how our system works. That's not how our democracy functions. That's not how our Constitution is written. So let's be honest. I need a dance partner here - and the floor is empty."
Barack Obama addressing the National Council of La Raza, 2011.
3. "To those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill." Barack Obama, White House televised address to the nation, 2014.
4. "If President Obama acts in defiance of the people and imposes his will on the country, Congress will act." Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in a Senate floor speech, 2014.
5. "The president’s Immigration Accountability Executive Actions will help secure the border, hold nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants accountable and ensure that everyone plays by the same rules. Acting within his legal authority, the president is taking an important step to fix our broken immigration system."
Office of the White House Press Secretary, 2014.
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6. "President Obama's unilateral legislative action violates the separation of powers provided for in the United States Constitution, as well as the Take Care Clause, and therefore is unconstitutional."
Judge Arthur J. Schwab, Western District of Pennsylvania, 2014.
7. "The American people have spoken loud and clear — they want our immigration laws enforced, rather than unilaterally changed in a way that undermines the spirit of our Constitution and the integrity of our laws."
Chairman Hal Rogers Floor Statement on H.R. 240 the Fiscal Year 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
8. "We are dealing with a president who has ignored the people, ignored the Constitution, and even his own past statements." Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), 2015.
9. "Law is not made because Congress fails to act. Law is made in this room when we do act." Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) co-sponsor of an amendment to defund the executive action on amnesty, 2015.
10. "Wow. Time flies when you're playing politics with people's lives. What are the headlines today? Behold the Republican immigration strategy, mass deportation." Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) 2015.
11. "In January, a horrible, horrible terrorist attack took place in Paris. You'd think it would have heightened the urgency to pass a Homeland Security bill, but the Republicans still say no to passing a clean bill unless they can be a menace to immigration." House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi, 2015.
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