Sen. Rand Paul wants Congress to use a precedent dating back to the Truman administration to fight President Barack Obama's planned use of an
executive order to grant legal status to millions of illegal immigrants.
Appearing Wednesday on
Fox News Channel's "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren," Paul pointed to the 1952 Supreme Court decision "Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer," which said President Harry Truman acted unlawfully when he put steel plants under federal control during the Korean War.
Opponents of Obama's plan have suggested impeachment, refusal to fund his programs, and fighting him on appointments. But Paul, a Kentucky Republican, suggested that Congress pass a resolution saying Obama's actions are contrary to the will of the House of Representatives, thereby setting up a court challenge.
Paul acknowledged that the plan could take time to work its way through the judicial system, but added, "History will treat him unkindly on this if he thinks he can become king."
Paul said he is open to some form of immigration reform, but said Obama and Senate Democrats, who will hold control of the upper chamber until January, want an all-or-nothing approach.
Paul said he expects piecemeal legislation as soon as Republicans take over both houses in January. That would include a plan to grant visas to people with master's degrees.
"They are being gobbled up by other countries, and we would love to have them in Silicon Valley, or in Texas, in Austin," he said.
A similar bill passed in the House last year, but Senate Democrats held it up because it didn't include everything they sought, Paul said.
Once such legislation is put on the president's desk, Paul said, "we'll see, is the president willing to work with us to get part of what he wants, or will he insist on always getting everything he wants?"
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.