As Twitchy reported last night, a federal judge in Texas put a hold on President Obama’s executive immigration order expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, a move that now gives states the time to challenge the president in court before millions are granted amnesty.
The White House has since responded to the ruling:
In statement issued at 248AM today, WH said a federal judge in Texas was wrong in blocking Pres Obama's exec actions on immigration.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 17, 2015
WH declares the president's exec actions shielding millions of illegal immigrants from deportation as "well within his legal authority."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 17, 2015
Oh, well that settles it then. The “WH says” so it has to be legal!
If that sounds familiar, maybe because it is:
.@markknoller Can't remember, what happened to last guy who said "When the President does it, that means that it's not illegal."?
— William Keane (@largebill68) February 17, 2015
Of course they do.. And Nixon said "I am not a crook" both are and were liars @markknoller
— F-ing Conservative (@FngConservative) February 17, 2015
And let’s not forget that the president had once made the very argument that he didn’t have this authority:
https://twitter.com/PostmasterBen/status/567699063504920576
https://twitter.com/LeslieEissing/status/567697064545366016
Awkward! The White House has promised an appeal:
WH statement says the federal court's decision "wrongly prevents" the president's actions and DOJ expected to appeal the decision.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 17, 2015
Recommended
@markknoller WH upset again about that damn separation of powers and equal branches of the Government Constitution stuff..
— DallenH ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (@d_allen_h) February 17, 2015
Moving forward, last night’s ruling is already affecting the DHS shutdown fight in Congress, with Sen. Ted Cruz hitting Dems for their support of the president:
https://twitter.com/amandacarpenter/status/567705718061420544
More from Sen. Cruz’s office:
“The Senate Democrats who are filibustering Department of Homeland Security funding should look hard at this ruling. At a time when we face grave national security threats, at home and abroad, it is the height of irresponsibility for the Democrats to block this funding in an extreme attempt to save Obama’s amnesty, which a federal judge has just declared illegal.”
Full statement via the White House:
The Supreme Court and Congress have made clear that the federal government can set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws—which is exactly what the President did when he announced commonsense policies to help fix our broken immigration system. Those policies are consistent with the laws passed by Congress and decisions of the Supreme Court, as well as five decades of precedent by presidents of both parties who have used their authority to set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws.
The Department of Justice, legal scholars, immigration experts, and the district court in Washington, D.C. have determined that the President’s actions are well within his legal authority. Top law enforcement officials, along with state and local leaders across the country, have emphasized that these policies will also benefit the economy and help keep communities safe. The district court’s decision wrongly prevents these lawful, commonsense policies from taking effect and the Department of Justice has indicated that it will appeal that decision.
Andrew S. Hanen, the judge who made the ruling was appointed by George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate 97-0 in 2002.
***
Related:
Long way to go, but @GregAbbott_TX & 25 states have secured a big 1st victory. The battle against amnesty NEVER ends. http://t.co/T6i4IFjTgP
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) February 17, 2015
Join the conversation as a VIP Member