Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) today issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s announcement that he will take executive action to unilaterally grant amnesty to the millions of illegal immigrants currently living in the United States:

“The president’s announcement comes at a curious time. I personally have a different perception of the urgency of this situation. Frankly, there is no evidence that the 11 million people currently living in the United States illegally are at immediate risk for deportation. In fact, the president’s comments earlier this year encouraged even more illegal and unsafe immigration that has put a terrible strain on our system in the state of Texas in particular and for the nation as a whole.

“But the timing is also peculiar considering that just weeks ago, the American people made clear that they are unhappy with the president’s policies, power grabs and disregard for the rule of law when they overwhelmingly elected Republicans to public office. 

“And finally, the president has had six years to work with Congress – including two years in which his party held the majority in both chambers of Congress – to introduce immigration reform in a constitutional and legal way. The simple truth is that he could not get this done then, so he is resorting to using executive power – which is by definition temporary – to shove this measure through. Not only is it bad policy, but it is unfair to the millions of people who are waiting in line to come to the Unites States legally. It is a further erosion of the Constitution and American legal system that the Obama administration has perpetuated time and time again.”


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