Sen. Jeff Sessions Calls For Investigation Into ‘Shadow’ Work Authorization System

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) is calling for an investigation into the recently exposed “shadow” work authorization system, in which the Obama administration has allowed millions more immigrants than Congress mandated to obtain work permits.

“This massive increase in the labor supply has occurred simultaneously with a steep drop in family incomes and a sharp rise in the number of Americans pushed out of the workforce,” Sessions said in a statement Monday. “All jobs gains since the recession have gone to foreign workers, while the slack labor market has depressed median family incomes almost $5,000 in that time.”

Sessions was reacting to new data revealed in a Center for Immigration report, showing that since 2009 the Obama administration has issued 5.5 million new work permits, more than the 1.1 million legal immigrants and 700,000 guest workers allowed into the to the U.S. annually.

CIS obtained the data via a Freedom of Information Act and, according to Sessions, the “shadow immigration system” should be investigated.

“A full investigation is warranted. In addition to the widespread non-enforcement of existing immigration law—such as the public charge rule—we know now the Administration has been issuing millions of additional work permits beyond what Congress has authorized,” he said.

The Alabama Republican further highlighted Tuesday’s vote on a House-passed Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill that defunds Obama’s executive amnesty. Sessions stressed that lawmakers must vote keeping the interests of the people they represent in mind. That would mean passing the bill.

“Any Senator who votes to block debate is voting to deny their constituents the protections of their own laws,” Sessions said. “Blocking debate on this bill is to block your own constituent’s voice in the affairs of their government.”

Sessions further argued that the coming debate on the DHS bill will shed more light on where Democrats stand on the issue.

“Congress passed limitations on immigration and rules for residing in the United States, in order to protect the economic interests of all U.S. workers—both immigrant and native-born,” he said. “Month after month, the Administration has systemically dismantled U.S. immigration laws without evoking a word of protest from members of the President’s party. The coming days will test whether congressional Democrats can claim to represent American workers, or whether they will complete their transformation into the party of open borders.”