Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference on House Democrats’ Efforts to Educate Communities on Implementation of the President’s Executive Actions on Immigration

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) delivered the following remarks today at a press conference with Representative Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) and House Democrats to discuss how Democrats are working to educate communities on the implementation of the President’s executive actions on immigration, and to urge House Republicans to stop holding DHS funding hostage:

“I am extraordinarily proud to be associated with Rep. Luis Gutiérrez. I think all of us on this stage would say no one has worked harder, longer, more effectively, more passionately, and with more knowledge in bringing the message to the American people – as the President is doing as well – that it is in the best interest of America that we fix a broken immigration system, that we pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill, but in the interim that we not subject our economy and families – the phrase the President used that Mr. Gutiérrez repeated, I think, is ‘felons not families.’  Americans are worried about felons, and what President Obama is saying is he wants to go after them and use the resources available to him in the executive department to make sure that felons are taken off our streets and out of our country if they can’t obey our laws. But that those who are law abiding citizens and are making our economy better and helping it work are not threatened. So I want to thank Rep. Gutiérrez.

“In spite of the lower court ruling in Texas, which we think is a bad ruling, we think it will be overturned, we expect the courts will reaffirm the President’s authority to set immigration policy priorities. Previous presidents have done that for decades. President Obama is following in that tradition. When President Bush did it or President [George] Herbert Walker Bush did it, my Republican colleagues did not raise an issue. When President Clinton did it, [Republicans] didn’t raise the issue. It is only now, when compelled by the Republicans’ inaction, the President felt it absolutely essential to act.

“[If] Republicans disagree with the President’s immigration policies, as clearly they do, [then they should] pass a bill, bring it to the Floor, let us consider it, let us debate it, give their opinion to the American people as to how they think the system ought to be fixed.  Holding our homeland security hostage because they disagree with certain policies is irresponsible, dangerous, and inconsistent with their oath of office to protect and defend America and to keep safe our citizens.

“Democrats will continue to fight for comprehensive reform that keeps families together, grows our economy, and reduces the deficit.  House Democrats will continue to host events in our districts in the coming weeks and months to help immigrants understand, if they’re eligible, how to apply for both DACA and DAPA.  We think that is a critical responsibility that we have, and I thank you, [Rep.] Luis [Gutiérrez], for your leadership on that, and I look forward on April 15 to spending [time] with you in my state, as all the other Members look forward to working with you in theirs.

“I urge – I urge, I plead, I appeal – to the best instincts of my Republican colleagues: bring the Department of Homeland Security bill to the Floor, and then if you want to debate an unrelated issue, as they pledged they would do, in their Pledge to America they said we will not put together controversial issues and non-controversial issues. It took them two weeks to break that pledge. So, let us now act, and, in the interim, let us join with Congressman Gutiérrez in educating people as to how they can take advantage of the opportunities that America has to provide and for which they are contributing. Thank you.”