Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) was the last senator in town on Tuesday, in order to deliver a speech pleading with President Obama not to issue more executive orders on immigration policy.
“Mr. President, frustration and pique can result in hasty and unwise decisions. Please do not do this,” Sessions said in a nearly 30 minute floor speech. “If these actions are taken, we will have effectively opened the borders of America.”
{mosads}Sessions was referring to reports that Obama is considering issuing worker visas for nearly 5 million immigrants this summer. The latest executive action would allow immigrants with expired student and worker visas to stay in the United States if they have children that are U.S. citizens.
“Congress has refused to pass it. What is the president’s excuse to take this unlawful action?,” Sessions said. “Congress has declined to provide the amnesty that he is advocating for.”
Sessions called on the Senate to take up a House-passed measure that would stop the administration from issuing any more deferred action on deportations.
“We can stop it together. We will not let this lawlessness stand,” Sessions said. “The fight begins with a vote on the House-passed bill to block this new executive action.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the House bill couldn’t pass in the Senate.
The House bill also went after Obama’s 2012 executive order to defer the deportation of “Dreamers” — undocumented immigrant children brought to the United States by their parents before 2007. Sessions said that if Obama continues to ignore the will of Congress there won’t be any immigration laws left.
“Surely we know the president cannot make law. Congress makes law,” Sessions said. “This we learned in grade school.”