On Monday, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) said President Barack Obama cannot intimidate Congress and warned Obama that more executive actions on illegal immigration would forever stain his presidency and be an affront to the American people.
Addressing his colleagues on the Senate floor, Sessions said that Obama, if he grants work permits and temporary amnesty to millions more Americans, would take the country into “exceedingly dangerous waters.” Sessions said those actions would be “in contravention of his duty and his oath to see that the laws of the United States be faithfully be enforced.”
Sessions said Obama may have young aides who think that he can just threaten to implement executive actions and expect that “lawmakers will just cower under their desk.”
“That is wrong, sir,” Sessions said. “You cannot intimidate Congress or the American people who sent them here… that which you desire is beyond your lawful reach.”
Sessions told Obama that it is “utterly unacceptable for you to meet with special interests groups” like La Raza and “promise actions to them that are contrary to law.” He said Obama’s executive amnesty would be an affront to the people of this country which they will never forget.”
“It would be a permanent stain on your presidency,” he continued. “I urge you to make that clear that you will not do this.”
He also asked administration officials to urge restraint and tell Obama, “You cannot do this, Mr. President.”
“That’s what they need to say,” Sessions said. “They know that’s the right answer, and they should stand up and say no.” Sessions added that “some of the best work such advisers can do is head off a disaster before it happens.”
Sessions reminded his colleagues that according to the plain law of the United States, illegal immigrants are “subject to removal and are ineligible to work.”
“Our law is right, and it is just,” Sessions said, noting that it “serves the legitimate interests of this nation and her people” and comports with those of all civilized nations.
Sessions also said that Obama’s actions not only “undermine the very sovereignty of the nation,” but send a clear message to everyone across the world: “get into America by any method you can, and you will never have to leave.”
He said all of his colleagues will face a “time of choosing” this week in which they either sponsor legislation to thwart Obama’s executive amnesty or enable it.
Sessions said no border bill should be approved if it does not prevent Obama from spending federal funds to implement his executive amnesty. And he said that voters who have been begging lawmakers to enforce the country’s immigration laws for 40 years may boot out lawmakers who enable Obama’s plans to grant amnesty to millions more illegal immigrants.