Issue Position: Immigration and Border Security

Issue Position

"We need to immediately secure our border and protect the homeland. I oppose amnesty in all forms." -- Dr. Paul Gosar

The Federal Government has failed its constitutional duty to secure our border. President Obama's unwillingness to uphold the Rule of Law is one of our most pressing national security risks and has put the people of Arizona at risk. The Obama Administration has given amnesty to illegal immigrants who have subsequently killed and harmed innocent Americans. Such actions are inexcusable. Further, unilateral executive actions on immigration are unconstitutional. Article I, Section 8, Clause 4 of our Constitution gives Congress clear jurisdiction on immigration matters. President Obama has consistently broken the law and violated our Constitution in his quest to enact his lawless immigration agenda. Dr. Gosar has been leading the charge in Congress to secure the border and end Obama's executive amnesty policies.

In March of 2016, Dr. Gosar led five appropriations submissions to crack down on illegal immigration. Specifically, Paul utilized the power of the purse to demand that appropriators ensure we build the fence, defund sanctuary cities, defund all of Obama's executive amnesty programs, defund Central American amnesty flights, and reimburse states for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants. Breitbart News covered these five appropriations efforts submitted by Dr. Gosar and his colleagues.

Paul has introduced legislation to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving in-state tuition, to end outdated U.S. policies that give amnesty to Cubans, to resume zero tolerance immigration policies under Operation Streamline, to terminate an amnesty program that flies illegals to the U.S. from three Central American countries and puts them on a pathway to citizenship, to reauthorize the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), to terminate President Obama's backdoor military amnesty program, and to prevent gang members and violent criminal aliens from entering the country and receiving amnesty.

Dr. Gosar has consistently supported and led efforts to complete the fence on our southern border and secure the homeland. Paul spearheaded an appropriations request supported by 21 members of the House to ensure completion of the double-layered fence on our border with Mexico is a top priority. Paul is a cosponsor of the Build the Fence Act, legislation that seeks to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security completes 700 miles of fencing as required by a 2006 law and gains operational control of our southern border. Dr. Gosar is also a cosponsor of the Secure Fence Restoration Act, legislation that prevents federal land management agencies from restricting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activities on public land, prevents terrorist and other unlawful aliens from entering the U.S., and requires completion of the security fence.

Last Congress Dr. Gosar cosponsored the National Border and Homeland Security Act, legislation which sought to conclude construction of the fence, allow for partnerships with local law enforcement, create 6,000 new border patrol jobs, and provide our agents with new technologies that would allow them to better accomplish their missions. Paul also voted for H.R. 5230, legislation which provided $405 million to secure the border and included important resources for detention and removal operations.

Dr. Gosar sponsored an amendment to prevent the Obama Administration from operating a backdoor amnesty program that allows illegal aliens to enlist in the military. As Breitbart News reports, the administration "is accelerating its program to recruit younger illegals and put them on a fast-track to citizenship." Prior to a memo from the Obama Administration in 2014, DACA aliens and other unlawful illegal immigrants were not allowed to enlist in the military. Unfortunately, we need still more conservatives in the House as this amendment failed by a single vote. Following this appropriations vote, Dr. Gosar introduced the Military Amnesty Prevention Act in order to terminate Obama's new backdoor amnesty program.

Paul also spearheaded an effort to encourage the Government Accountability office to determine whether Obama's executive amnesty orders violate the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA). The ADA makes it unlawful for any agency of the federal government to spend money on activities not authorized by Congress. Just one day after President Obama made his announcement regarding his executive actions on immigration, DHS posted 1,000 job openings, many of them permanent positions, for the purposes of processing work permits for illegal aliens who were granted amnnesty. The administration also plans to lease a massive new office in Crystal City, Virginia to house these new employees. Media reports indicated that these actions alone will squander at least $48 million. Congress has not authorized this amnesty program, nor has it appropriated money to hire staff and rent buildings to process these illegal applications. As a result, DHS' actions likely violate the ADA.

In addition, Paul has cosponsored multiple pieces of legislation to bolster security and prevent illegal immigrants that are arrested for violent crimes from being released into our communities. Dr. Gosar is a cosponsor of the Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation that denies certain federal funding for states and municipalities with "sanctuary city" policies conflict with federal immigration law. Paul is a cosponsor of Katie's Law, legislation that sets the amount of jail time to no less than five years for any adult illegal alien who attempts to return to the United States illegally after previously being deported. Dr. Gosar is a cosponsor of the Stop Catch and Release Act, legislation that prevents illegal immigrants with pending criminal charges from being released back into our communities. Paul is a cosponsor of the Michael Davis, Jr. in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, legislation that defunds President Obama's executive amnesty orders, expedites the removal of criminal aliens, allows local governments to assist with enforcing federal immigration law, and prohibits funds from going to sanctuary cities.

Dr. Gosar has a career "A+' grade with the immigration enforcement advocacy group NumbersUSA and a career 100% rating with the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) for his leadership on immigration enforcement issues in Congress.

Dr. Gosar opposes amnesty in all forms and will continue to do everything in his power to secure the border and end unlawful executive immigration policies that are putting Arizona communities at risk.

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