Press Releases

Statement from Rep. Scott Perry on the President's Immigration Address:
 
    "On November 4, the American people sent a clear message that they want balance in our government. They want Democrats and Republicans to work together to provide real solutions to the country’s problems. The message from the American people, however, was not that they wanted unilateral and unconstitutional actions from the President.

    Clearly, America’s immigration system is broken - we have 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country; that’s a serious problem, but unilateral action by the President is not the right answer. President Obama has said, “…the notion that I can just suspend deportations through executive order, that’s just not the case.” The President recognizes that these actions  are unconstitutional, yet he’s still pushing for unilateral action.

    Even members of the President’s political party have said this scheme is wrong for America. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said, “I wish he wouldn’t do it.” Sen. Angus King (I-ME) said, “the Constitution says that the Congress makes the law and President executes it.” Yet despite objections from Democrats, Republicans and Independents, the President has forged ahead with an unpopular and unconstitutional plan.

    The first step in any reform process must be to secure our borders, period. Significant progress must be made on this issue before we take any further steps.

    Currently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has no metrics to properly understand the security of our borders. DHS must establish realistic metrics while using readily-available technology that provides transparency and allows us to properly address areas of concern across our southern border. More than half of the illegal entries, along with most illegal drug and human trafficking, take place in a handful of southern border sectors. The U.S. Border Patrol is limited in what it can do in these sectors because they’re on federally designated lands with wilderness or conservation status. That the Border Patrol is limited by federal law from performing federal functions on federal land is ludicrous - and must change.

    I’ve advocated for legislation in the House Homeland Security Committee to push DHS to gain operational control of our border. Once our border security concerns are met, we can turn our attention to the current immigration system, which clearly is broken.

    Dozens of businesses and families in my district have described to me an immigration system that’s outdated, incredibly inefficient and stifles economic growth by drowning businesses with regulations. The system promotes illegal immigration by forcing those who want to come to the United States legally to confront a bloated and entrenched bureaucracy that’s almost impossible to navigate.

    I do not support amnesty, which is blatantly unfair to the millions of individuals and families who waited - often for many years - to come here legally. I’ll continue to work towards a new legal immigration system that: establishes verifiable enforcement measures that ensure visitors leave our country when they're supposed to; provides our agricultural industries with the workers they need; requires immigrants to understand and speak basic English; and revises visa programs to attract and keep more entrepreneurs, investors and highly skilled workers in science, technology, engineering and math fields."

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