Constitution Works

                The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday comes from a case decided last week by the U.S. Supreme Court. On Thursday, June 23, 2016, the Supreme Court issued a 4-4 decision blocking Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration. The High Court’s decision was a tie vote, which upheld a ruling by a lower court on the matter. The focus of the case dealt with Mr. Obama’s “unilateral attempt to shield immigrants in the United States illegally from deportation and to make them eligible for work permits without the approval of Congress.” 

                Texas led a 26-state fight to block the implementation of the executive order. The decision by the Supreme Court kills Mr. Obama’s plan. “House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said, `Today, Article I of the Constitution was vindicated….The Supreme Court’s ruling makes the president’s executive action on immigration null and void….. The Constitution is clear: The president is not permitted to write laws – only Congress is. This is another major victory in our fight to restore the separation of powers.’”

                So, what did Mr. Obama do after losing the case? He sent a message to the millions of illegal immigrants in the USA that he was not going to deport them while at the same time acknowledging “his push to reform the U.S. immigration system” was ended by the Supreme Court decision.

                “Obama’s plan aimed to temporarily remove the threat of deportation for up to four million immigrants, building on an earlier Obama plan affecting people brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Though the court’s move means that expanded group won’t be eligible for work permits, Obama said his administration would continue prioritizing deportations only for new arrivals and those with criminal records.”