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As was probably expected, both of Iredell County’s Congressional members were less than pleased with the announcement made by President Obama Thursday night regarding his plans to take executive action on the matter of illegal immigration.

U.S. Representatives Virginia Foxx and Robert Pittenger – both Republicans who have been outspoken on the matter of undocumented residents of the United States – issued statements suggesting Obama contravened the power allowed him by the Constitution in a plan that essentially give amnesty to approximately 4 million undocumented immigrants.

“President Obama does not have the legal authority to legislate, and his unilateral actions on immigration are a blatant overreach of his Constitutionally-granted executive authority,” said Foxx, whose 5th District includes most of Statesville and areas north and east of the city. “The president claims to believe in the Constitution, but his actions tonight demonstrate otherwise.”

Foxx has often called the matter of illegal immigration the most important one in the United States. And while she acknowledged that “America’s immigration system is broken,” she said the issue is one that must be addressed legislatively, not at Executive level.

“It is Congress’ responsibility to pursue reforms and build consensus toward a strong immigration policy that begins with border security,” she said. “Immigration reform must be approached carefully and with ample public input. There is too much at stake to do anything else.”

Pittenger, whose 9th District includes Mooresville and areas to areas to the west and south of it, said in essence that Obama was breaking the law.

“The unilateral actions announced tonight by President Obama are an affront to the American people and an egregious violation of our Constitution,” he said. “Our Founding Fathers devised a carefully divided system of government, with checks and balances and a purposeful separation of powers.  According to the Constitution, legislative power is delegated to Congress, while the President’s authority is to enforce the laws, not write the laws.”

While many presidents have used Executive Orders on any number of matters – indeed, President George W. Bush issued three Executive Orders on the matter of immigration – Pittenger said Obama’s plan is an overreach past what the law allows.

“President Obama has made 22 public declarations that he cannot, should not, and must not write his own immigration laws,” he said. “He should be a man of his word.  Instead, his actions have precipitated a Constitutional crisis.”

Like Foxx, Pittenger said that that the first step in an immigration reform policy is a tightening of the southern border, and added that he is hopeful Obama will work with Republicans next year on that issue.

http://www.statesville.com/news/pittenger-foxx-cry-foul-on-president-s-actions/article_d16ce670-7203-11e4-a629-a366f152c156.html