Illegal immigration is a serious economic, national security, and humanitarian issue that must be addressed, starting with the enforcement of the immigration laws already in existence. While immigration reform is long overdue, Im troubled that the President continues to selectively enforce existing laws and implement immigration policy unilaterally without consulting Congress.  The recent administrative actions by the President demonstrate another attempt to bypass the Constitutional separation of powers and the role of Congress to pass laws. I believe that any substantive changes to our current immigration system must be approved by Congress before implementation.

In response to this issue the House has taken a number of steps to push back on the Presidents unilateral actions.  First, the House passed H.R. 5230 with my support by a tally of 223 to 189.  This proposal contained a total of $694 million for border security, enforcement of immigration and customs laws, humanitarian assistance, acceleration of judicial proceedings for immigrants, a National Guard presence on the southern border, and illegal immigration prevention. 

Additionally, on August 1, 2014, I voted for H.R. 5272 which passed by a tally of 216 to 192.  This legislation is related to the Presidents executive action titled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).  Deferred Action is temporary relief from deportation or removal action.  H.R. 5272 freezes the DACA program by denying the Administration from unilaterally authorizing individuals to work or granting additional people deferred status under the DACA or any subsequent Administrative action without express Congressional authorization.

During floor consideration of H.R. 240, Representative Aderholt and Blackburn offered two separate amendments addressing the Administrations unilateral attempt to continue modifying our nations immigration laws. These amendments will cease further implementation of the DACA Program, a unilateral effort by the White House to defer action on some individuals who are in our country illegally. Additionally, the amendments would prohibit any federal funding to enact President Obamas executive actions on immigration that were announced in November 2014. I voted in support of the Blackburn and Aderholt amendments which both passed.

Also included within the legislation was an amendment introduced by Representative Schock expressing a sense of Congress that the Administration must support and implement laws that stop the practice of placing the interests of unlawful aliens in our country ahead of those who are pursuing legal avenues for immigration. Current policies are not only setting a dangerous precedent, they are also straining already-limited immigration resources meant to process applications for those following the correct legal path.

Since passing the House, the mere consideration of H.R. 240 has been blocked four separate times by Senate Democrats. Subsequently, on February 22, 2015 the Senate passed an amended version of the bill that fully funds Homeland Security through the end of 2015 without any of the Houses language rolling back the Presidents unilateral immigration actions.

In response, the House voted by a tally of 228 to 191 to send the bill to conference where the House and Senate could further discuss our disagreement about the immigration orders and hopefully find some common ground. However, Senate Democrats again blocked this fair and responsible approach.

Democrats refusal to discuss this issue is even more frustrating when considering that a federal judge in Texas recently ruled that a portion of the Presidents executive action was improper as no law passed by Congress gave the Administration the power to give 4.3 million removable aliens what the Department of Homeland Security itself labels as legal presence. Therefore, regardless of Congresses refusal to actdue to a Senate Democrat filibusterthe legal system may provide an optional recourse to the Presidents immigration actions.

I am under no illusions that any of these legislative responses are perfect, and I strongly believe that we must come together in a bipartisan fashion and do more to secure our border and fix our broken immigration system.  I continue to hope that we can fix our broken immigration system, and I remain willing to support legislation that is fair, upholds the rule of law, and protects the interests of our citizens without allowing for blanket amnesty for offenders.  However, I also believe that any substantive changes to our nations immigration policy, even those which I may support, must be passed through Congress and not unilaterally enacted by this Administration. 

It is undoubtedly time for Congress to act on broader reform.  The current system is not sustainable as I believe that it is de facto amnesty.  However, when considering broad reform we must identify a few key principles and ensure that they are upheld in a final agreement. 

Border security and interior enforcement should come first.  We also need to implement a robust visa tracking system as I worry our current deficiencies in locating those who remain in our country beyond the designated period put our national security at risk.  Additionally, we must institute a comprehensive employment verification and workplace enforcement system.  This system needs to ensure that employers know who they can legally hire, and that way we can better hold accountable those employers that knowingly break the law.  We must also review our current visa quotas and ensure that they are accurately adjusted so employers can find the employees they needwhile also keeping in mind the goal of protecting working Americans jobs and incomes.  Finally, we must not ignore the hardest issue and that is what to do with those living illegally in the United States.  While I am not persuaded that we should enact a special pathway to citizenship for individuals who made a decision to come to this country without authorization, we can create a system where these persons can legally step forward so that they might pay federal, state, and local taxes and lighten the burden for American citizens.  Such individuals should pass rigorous background checks, pay fines and back taxes, and continue contributing to society as full legal members of our communities.  But, again, none of this should happen before other security requirements have been met.

With these principles in mind, I look forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues to limit the Presidents ability to continue enacting broad executive action as it relates to immigration, and on comprehensively reforming our nations immigration laws after securing our southern border. 

I encourage you to visit my website at http://toddyoung.house.gov/ where you can sign up for my e-newsletter and stay informed on important issues facing Hoosiers and the nation. Again, thank you for contacting me.  It is an honor to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives.