Rep. Mark Takano Statement on President Obama's Executive Action on Immigration

Washington DC - Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after President Obama announced his executive action on immigration:

 

Today’s long overdue executive action by President Obama will help bring millions out of the shadows and into a society that no longer takes advantage of them. This is not amnesty. It is an opportunity for millions of people in this country to no longer live under the fear of deportation – people who are working, paying taxes and raising families. We need to refocus our immigration system on making our border more secure, creating an efficient naturalization process, and prioritizing enforcement of the law against criminals, not families with children. This executive action does just that.

 

Our current immigration system has been broken for quite some time and despite that well-known fact, House Republicans have failed to act in the 500 days since the Senate passed their comprehensive legislation. With House Republicans not interested in solving the problem, the President has chosen to take actions similar to the ten Presidents prior to him who issued similar forms of immigration relief.

 

While I certainly wish the President would have provided protection to many more undocumented immigrants, this relief is a good beginning. However, this is not a long term solution, as nothing will replace action from Congress. I urge Speaker Boehner to hold a vote on the Senate immigration bill as soon as possible so that once and for all, we can bring every undocumented immigrant out of the shadows and on an earned path toward citizenship.