GOP Candidates: Don’t Let the Dems Off the Hook On Immigration

Public opinion has turned decisively against amnesty for illegal immigrants, and the numbers are even worse when voters are asked about executive action by the president. On Thursday, for example, Rasmussen reported that likely voters oppose the president “granting amnesty to illegal immigrants without the approval of Congress” by a whopping 62% to 26%. Recognizing this, Democratic Senate candidates have begged President Obama to defer any executive action.

This morning, the White House announced that Obama will not issue any orders on immigration “before the elections.” Which, in turn, is causing Democrats everywhere (except at La Raza) to breathe a sigh of relief. Democratic Senate candidates can now claim that they oppose amnesty, secure in the knowledge that Obama will not put them to the test until the election is safely over.

Republicans shouldn’t let them get away with this transparent dodge. There is a way to expose Democratic Senate candidates’ pro-illegal immigration stances, and, as usual, Jeff Sessions shows the way. The House has passed a bill blocking implementation of any executive amnesty, and Ted Cruz has introduced that legislation in the Senate. But Harry Reid, naturally, refuses to bring Cruz’s measure up for a vote. The question that should be asked of every Democratic candidate for the Senate is: will you demand that Harry Reid allow a vote on the Cruz bill to block implementation of executive orders granting amnesty to illegal immigrants? Sessions wrote yesterday:

Just today, the President reiterated his commitment to implement an executive amnesty that would include work authorization for millions of people who entered illegally or illegally overstayed a visa—allowing them to compete for any job in America. His planned action would also reportedly include a massive boost to the already-huge supply of low-wage labor brought into the U.S. for large corporations.

The immigration debate comes down to several central questions:

* Does our country have the right to control its borders and decide who comes to live and work here?

* Do citizens have the right to expect and demand that the laws passed by their elected representatives be enforced?

* Should American workers get priority for jobs and wages?

Any Senator who believes the answers to these questions are ‘yes’ must support the House-passed bill to block the President’s planned executive amnesty—and demand Leader Reid call it up for a vote. Not one Senate Democrat has done so.

Not one Senate Democrat wants to prevent unconstitutional orders on immigration from taking effect, nor does a single Democratic candidate for the Senate. This is a powerful issue that will give the Republicans control over the Senate in November, if GOP candidates are smart enough to explain to voters what the Dems are up to.

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