WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement this evening in response to President Obama’s unilateral plan to shield up to 5 million illegal immigrants from enforcement of federal immigration laws.

“For over six years, the president has repeatedly stated that he would not and could not address immigration except through cooperation with Congress. The president’s politically-timed announcement tonight shows a complete flip-flop on that longstanding belief,” Fischer said. “Sweeping executive actions that fail to enact meaningful reforms, such as enhancing border security and implementing a biometric entry/exit system, do little to curb illegal immigration; in fact they encourage it. The president has previously said that such executive action would ‘be both unwise and unfair,’ and ‘could lead to a surge in more illegal immigration’.

“I believe the president should work with – rather than around – Congress in areas where we can find common ground to improve our immigration laws, instead of ignoring them. Unfortunately, this action by the president sends the message that he has little interest in working with Congress, despite the good will expressed by lawmakers following the recent election.”

On March 28, 2011, President Obama stated, “With respect to the notion that I can just suspend deportations through executive order, that’s just not the case, because there are laws on the books that Congress has passed …. [W]e’ve got three branches of government. Congress passes the law. The executive branch’s job is to enforce and implement those laws.”

During the Senate’s 2013 debate on a proposal to reform U.S. immigration laws, Fischer introduced an amendment to strengthen border security and discourage more illegal immigration.

In August, Fischer traveled to Texas with a bipartisan group of senators to assess firsthand the crisis along the southern border and discuss border security issues with Customs and Border Patrol personnel.