Paul Ryan, Republican House Plan to File Brief in Executive Order Immigration Case
House Republicans are planning to vote on a resolution that could result in the panel going before the Supreme Court to argue against President Obama's executive order on immigration.
In a closed-door meeting with party members, Majority Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., recently revealed GOP plans to express their views in the case, which is widely seen as the ultimate legal challenge to the president's order stopping the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants. Previously, a lower court stalled the program.
As part of their ongoing opposition to Obama's actions, House Republicans are hoping to secure time before the Supreme Court during the oral arguments phase of the upcoming proceedings. Former solicitor general Paul Clement is rumored to be representing Ryan and the Republicans on a pro bono basis.
Ryan Stresses Only Congress Can Write law
"This is a very extraordinary step," Ryan said of the president's actions. "In fact, it's never been done before. This executive amnesty is a direct attack on the Congress' Article One powers under our constitution. This is a question between Article One and Article Two. The president is not permitted to write law. Only Congress is. The House will make that very, very clear."
Back in 2014, the Obama administration moved forward with an executive action aimed at shielding millions of undocumented immigrants from what seemed like sure deportation.
The plan called for the expansion of a program that would allow an estimated 5 million immigrants to apply for relief from deportation, while The Department of Homeland Security focused on rounding up and deporting serious criminals and immigrants who had only recently entered the U.S.
Obama Promotes His Plan
"The fact is millions of immigrants, in every state, of every race and nationality still live here illegally," Obama said at the time the plan was announced. "And let's be honest, tracking down, rounding up and deporting millions of people isn't realistic. It also isn't who we are as Americans."
Obama's action came after Congress repeatedly failed to pass comprehensive legislation on immigration reform to address the 11 million undocumented immigrants now living in the United States.
More specifically, the plan offered greater protections to DREAMERS, or young undocumented immigrants who came or were brought into the U.S. when they were 16 or younger.
In addition, the plan also called for undocumented immigrants who are parents of children who are citizens or have legal status, and who have been in the U.S. for five or more years, to be able to apply for deferred action. Once those applicants passed a criminal background check, they would have been granted work authorization and Social Security numbers, and they would be required to pay taxes.
"If you meet the criteria you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law," the president added.
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