Lamar Smith: “First of all, I want to thank the chairman of the Rules Committee and my Texas colleague for yielding me time and also…”

“First of all, I want to thank the chairman of the Rules Committee and my Texas colleague for yielding me time and also for his very generous comments. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution authorizing the Speaker to submit an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of the Texas-led lawsuit challenging the President's amnesty policies. It is critical that the House of Representatives defend the Constitution, which specifically gives Congress, not the President, the power to enact immigration laws. Regrettably, the President's policies have ignored laws, undermined laws, and changed immigration laws. The President's policies have led to a surge of tens of thousands of illegal immigrants across our borders, allowed unlawful immigrants to compete with unemployed Americans for scarce jobs, and established sanctuary cities that release dangerous criminal immigrants into our neighborhoods where many go on to commit other crimes. The House of Representatives must reinforce the rule of law and protect the lives and livelihoods of the American people. Mr. Speaker, that is why I support this resolution. {time} 1130”