The entire Republican delegation in Texas has sent a letter to President Barack Obama demanding that he enforce the immigration laws to stem the tide of illegal juveniles flooding across the border,
Politico reports.
“Mr. President, you have the authority to stop the surge of illegal entries by immigrant minors today,” said the letter signed by Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, plus 24 House GOP members. “Enforcing current immigration laws will go a long way to solving the border crisis.”
They also called on Obama to suspend his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive order of 2012, which has resulted in thousands of illegal minors remaining in the U.S. for an extended period while awaiting for their immigration cases to be heard.
The Republicans wrote that Obama’s order, “has shielded over half a million illegal immigrants from current law. And it has sent the regrettable message that illegal immigration will not be punished in the United States.”
Drawn up by House Homeland Security member Lamar Smith, the letter accused Obama of “further encouraging illegal immigration,” while calling on the government for more cooperation with local authorities as well as faster deportations to stop the surge.
“Your administration has used existing laws as an excuse for your failure to end the national security and humanitarian crisis on our Southern Border,” the lawmakers wrote. “However, the majority of immigrants apprehended at the border during this crisis can be legally repatriated immediately.”
More than 50,000 juveniles, mainly from Central American countries, have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border since October last year.
Obama has asked Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency funding to deal with the border crisis and resulting humanitarian problems, but conservatives have balked at the request.
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