Zoe Lofgren: “I would just like to note that, in 2010, the House of Representatives did pass the DREAM Act. Eight Republicans voted…”

“I would just like to note that, in 2010, the House of Representatives did pass the DREAM Act. Eight Republicans voted against it. It was killed by Republicans in the Senate, but we did our best to pass the DREAM Act. In fact, it did pass this House, and I still have the gavel that Speaker Pelosi used while presiding over that measure displayed proudly in my office. I think, also, as we discuss matters, we can help undercut confidence in our system of government. Yes, we are fans of article I because we are in the Congress, but article II has its role as well. I think it is important to note that the Supreme Court itself has, as recently as last year, noted--and that is in the Arizona case--that Federal immigration officials have broad discretion, including ``whether it makes sense to pursue removal at all'' as part of their authority under the Constitution. Further, we have delegated to the President by statute, 6 U.S. Code 202, for the administration using its article II authority to establish the national immigration enforcement policies and priorities, which is what the President did. So let's not instill anxiety and confusion among our constituents by somehow saying, when the President uses the authority that we have granted to him that the Supreme Court has noted he has, that somehow that is improper. It is not. I would say further, on the merits of the case, this is not just random authority, as the gentleman from Arizona suggested earlier.…”