Thread: Sessions says DACA illegal because of high approval rate

By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Wednesday, October 18, 2017

The Obama-era DACA deportation amnesty for “Dreamers” wasn’t illegal on its face but rather because of the way it was being carried out, Attorney General Jeff Sessions told Congress on Wednesday.

Mr. Sessions said the policy might have been defended if illegal immigrants were evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but he said the near-blanket level of approvals — more than 92 percent according to the latest statistics — undercut its legality.

“A DACA program might be legal if it was done on an individualized basis. But the Department of Justice can’t just wipe out whole sections of the American law and say we’re not going to enforce it,” Mr. Sessions told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

He helped scrap the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program last month, ruling that the department could no longer defend the policy in court. After that, the Homeland Security Department announced a six-month phaseout of the program.

But Sen. Richard Durbin, Illinois Democrat and a longtime defender of illegal immigrant Dreamers, said Mr. Sessions contradicted the advice of the Office of Legal Counsel, which serves as the main legal voice of the government.

The OLC issued an opinion in 2014 saying it thought DACA and a later amnesty, known as DAPA that applied to a broader set of illegal immigrants, would be legal.

“Check your website — that opinion is still on your website — that DACA is lawful,” Mr. Durbin said.

But courts have since ruled DAPA illegal and questioned the operations of DACA, and Mr. Sessions said those rulings helped undercut the amnesty, leading him to conclude he couldn’t defend it.

Mr. Sessions said he doubted he could reveal his communications with the OLC ahead of his decision, nor would he say whether he spoke with Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose threat to sue to stop DACA helped forced last month’s phaseout decision.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...se-high-appro/

“A DACA program might be legal if it was done on an individualized basis. But the Department of Justice can’t just wipe out whole sections of the American law and say we’re not going to enforce it,”

Looks like Jeff Sessions is no longer the man we thought he was after a few months of working for Trump!

You'll see Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott with the same support for Congressional DACA Amnesty and hope Congress takes action. They both stated this when asked by reporters about it after the DACA announcement in September.

Jeff Sessions open to deal on DACA, border security

Trump to extend DACA protections if Congress doesn’t legalize them

“A DACA program might be legal if it was done on an individualized basis. But the Department of Justice can’t just wipe out whole sections of the American law and say we’re not going to enforce it,”

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Looks like Jeff Sessions is no longer the man we thought he was after a few months of working for Trump!

He's still remaining consistent in saying DACA is illegal and he did say he wouldn't defend it in court.

Originally Posted by Judy

You'll see Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott with the same support for Congressional DACA Amnesty and hope Congress takes action. They both stated this when asked by reporters about it after the DACA announcement in September.

Wow, are you honestly attacking Gov. Abbott and Texas AG Paxton on DACA? They are directly responsible for the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against DAPA and for the ending of DACA. I for one am extremely appreciative for everything AG Sessions, Gov. Abbott, and Texas AG Paxton have done in the fight against DACA and DAPA. I think it is very unfortunate to hear them getting besmirched on this issue.

Immigration

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is leading the fight against President Obama’s unlawful immigration plan that would grant “lawfully present” status to 4 million people who came to the United States illegally. Texas has led a coalition representing 26 states to victory in previous court decisions, successfully securing an injunction against implementation of the President’s program, known as DAPA. U.S. Supreme Court arguments on the injunction will be heard on April 18.
News Releases

Texas AG Continues to Lead Fight Against Unlawful Immigration Plan; Leader of 26-State Coalition Files Brief with U.S. Supreme Court in Advance of April Arguments

Monday, March 28, 2016 – Austin, Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today filed a merits brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, outlining arguments against President Obama’s unlawful immigration plan that would grant “lawfully present” status to 4 million people who came to the United States illegally. Texas led a coalition representing 26 states to victory in previous court decisions, successfully securing an injunction against implementation of the President’s program, known as DAPA.

“The Obama Administration has consistently demonstrated disregard for the rule of law in asserting that it has the legal authority to unilaterally change the immigration policy of the United States,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Rewriting national immigration law requires the full and careful consideration of Congress, not the political will and assertion of one person. As the president himself said numerous times, he alone does not have the authority to grant millions of unauthorized aliens a host of benefits, including work authorization.”

Texas AG’s Office Continues Fight Against President Obama’s Unlawful Immigration Plan

Tuesday, December 29, 2015 – Austin, Texas

The Texas Attorney General’s Office today asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a federal appeals court ruling to halt the president’s unconstitutional executive action on immigration. In the brief in opposition to certiorari, Texas argues the executive branch exceeded its authority in unilaterally granting lawful presence to over 4 million illegal immigrants.

“President Obama’s executive action on immigration represents an unprecedented attempt to expand the power of the executive branch,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. “The president alone does not have the authority to grant millions of illegal immigrants a host of benefits – like Social Security and Medicare – which should be reserved for lawful citizens. Rewriting national immigration law requires the full and careful consideration of Congress, and Texas will continue to fight this affront to the rule of law.”

Fifth Circuit Rules for Texas: Executive Amnesty ‘Unlawful’

Monday, November 9, 2015 – Austin, Texas

The Texas Attorney General’s Office today secured a major victory against the Obama Administration’s illegal attempt to unilaterally change national immigration law. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district court decision halting the president’s executive amnesty plan, ruling in favor of the Texas-led coalition of 26 states. The Court ruled that the president has “no statutory authority” to take his unilateral action.

“Today, the Fifth Circuit asserted that the separation of powers remains the law of the land, and the president must follow the rule of law, just like everybody else,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. “Throughout this process, the Obama Administration has aggressively disregarded the constitutional limits on executive power, and Texas, leading a charge of 26 states, has secured an important victory to put a halt to the president’s lawlessness.

President Obama’s Executive Amnesty Program is Attack Upon Rule of Law; Texas Leads 26-State Coalition in Oral Arguments in Fifth Circuit Immigration Hearing

Friday, July 10, 2015 – Austin, Texas

The Texas Attorney General’s Office today continued the fight against President Obama’s executive amnesty program, arguing for the bipartisan coalition of 26 states in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Court will decide whether to reverse the district court’s decision to halt the president’s plan.

“President Obama’s executive amnesty program would prompt some of the most massive changes to national immigration law in history, all without any input from Congress or the American people. Federal lawyers today even acknowledged several times that this action constitutes a ‘significant policy enactment,’” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. “Our system of checks and balances is intended to prevent the very action that this president has taken. This lawsuit isn’t about immigration policy – it’s about the rule of law, and we need to leave lawmaking to Congress, which was entrusted, empowered and elected by the people to do just that.”

Attorney General Paxton Calls for Increased Oversight of Obama Administration in Executive Amnesty Case

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 – Austin, Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today filed a response to the Obama Administration’s April 30 and May 7 advisories, which confirm the unwieldiness of the President’s illegal amnesty plan. The Texas-led, bipartisan coalition of 26 states continues to hold the Obama Administration accountable for its misrepresentations to a federal district court and its admitted violation of a court order in prematurely implementing executive amnesty. In today’s filing with the federal district court, the states argued for increased oversight of the administration's compliance with the court's injunction, and for the opportunity to look into whether the defendants should be sanctioned for their misrepresentations to the court.

“Not even the Obama Administration has a full grasp of the complicated bureaucracy that defines the president’s illegal amnesty plan,” Attorney General Paxton said. “The newly-revealed admission that even more expanded work permits were granted to 2,000 illegal immigrants raises serious questions about the Obama Administration’s reliability moving forward. Increased oversight is needed to hold the federal government accountable for its apparent inability to report accurate information to the court.”

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/immigration/immigration

If anyone deserves our praise over their fight against DREAMER amnesty attempts over the years and DACA since its inception, it's the former Sen. of Alabama, Jeff Sessions. Additionally, Gov. Abbott and Ken Paxton of Texas deserve the same praise for what they've done in the fight against DACA and DAPA. These three guys have been our saviors up to this point and should have our full respect!

No, it's not an attack. It's just a fact that they both were interviewed last month when the end of DACA was announced and they both said they had no problem with Congress taking action and hoped it did.

Originally Posted by Judy

No, it's not an attack. It's just a fact that they both were interviewed last month when the end of DACA was announced and they both said they had no problem with Congress taking action and hoped it did.

Unfortunately I haven't heard one single politician say anything different. I guess they're afraid of being labeled a racist and feel it necessary to be political correct on this issue. However, I'd say their actions speak much louder than a few blurbs giving to the media.

Tell AG Jeff Sessions No Deal on DACA Amnesty for illegals
https://www.alipac.us/f8/tell-ag-jef...legals-351891/