U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI)
A U.S. Senator from Wisconsin is accusing President Obama of using an “executive fiat” to tackle immigration reform, and warns the move could result in a strained working relationship with Republicans for the coming session of Congress.
The President on Thursday night announced an executive order that would allow millions of undocumented immigrants to stay in the country, while shifting the focus to deporting criminals who illegally cross the border. Republican Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) says there are serious questions about whether he has the legal authority to even take those actions. “He said as much over the past two years that he did not have the power to act in the manner he is,” argues Johnson.
AUDIO: Sen. Ron Johnson on immigration executive order (:35)
Johnson says it’s unfortunate that Obama has chosen to start off his relationship with the new Republican majority by “picking a fight,” which he believes will only make it difficult for the GOP to work with the White House on a legislative solution. Johnson says “I really do think there can be some pretty broad agreement on how we treat those individuals who are here, many through no fault of their own, but you have to do it in the right order.”
Johnson says the first priority needs to be securing the nation’s borders, which he hopes to address next year when he takes over as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.