Home States Fight President’s Immigration Action When Senate Democrats Refuse

• Senate Democrats once agreed that Congress, and Congress alone, has authority to legislate when it comes to immigration matters.

• These same critics of the president have now flip-flopped.

• Ten of the 26 states that challenged the Obama administration are represented by Democrat Senators – their governors and attorneys general have taken up the fight that those Democrats shied away from.

Last fall, President Obama expanded the eligible population of immigrants who would not be subject to deportation and made available work authorization for immigrants with newly permitted residency status. Shortly after the president announced his changes to immigration law, 26 states challenged the federal government in court. A federal district court has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the program.

Ten of the 26 states that challenged the federal government are represented by Democrats in the U.S. Senate. Those states are taking up the responsibility to stop the president’s amnesty program even when their Senators won’t.

10 states represented by Democrat Senators fight the president’s power grab

Eleven Democrat Senators out of step with their states

Some Senate Democrats criticized the president’s amnesty program when it was announced last fall. When the time came to vote for legislation that would rein in the president, they supported his power grab. On four separate occasions, every Senate Democrat voted to block legislation that would have stopped the president’s amnesty plan.

1. Florida: Senator Nelson
2. Indiana: Senator Donnelly

“Only Congress has the ability to change the law to fix it. … the President shouldn't make such significant policy changes on his own." 

Senator Donnelly, 11/20/2014

3. Montana: Senator Tester
4. North Dakota: Senator Heitkamp

“I'm disappointed the president decided to use executive action at this time on this issue.” 

Senator Heitkamp, 11/20/2014

5. Ohio: Senator Brown
6. West Virginia: Senator Manchin

“I disagree with the president's decision to use executive action to make changes to our immigration system.”

Senator Manchin, 11/20/2014

7. Wisconsin: Senator Baldwin
8. Michigan: Senator Stabenow
9. Michigan: Senator Peters
10. Maine: Senator King

“The Constitution says that the Congress makes the law and the president executes it. It's a very clear division.”

Senator King, 11/19/2014

11. Nevada: Senator Reid