Alabama politicians react to U.S. Supreme Court immigration ruling

Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 4-4 tied ruling in the case of United States v. Texas, which effectively blocks President Barack Obama’s proposed immigration plan that sought to shield millions living in the U.S. illegally from deportation.

The single-sentence opinion effectively kills the plan for the duration of Obama’s presidency.

Obama expressed disappointment Thursday in the deadlocked ruling, saying the decision “takes us further from the country that we aspire to be.”

“For more than two decades now our immigration system, everybody acknowledges, has been broken,” Obama continued. “And the fact that the Supreme Court wasn’t able to issue a decision today doesn’t just set the system back even further, it takes us further from the country that we aspire to be.”

Here are reactions from elected officials and political groups in Alabama. We will be updating this post as they come in:

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby:

Today’s Supreme Court decision, which effectively blocks President Obama’s immigration executive actions, is a victory for our system of checks and balances.  Time and again, the Obama Administration has attempted to circumvent Congress and push its agenda on the American people through executive fiat.  While I am pleased that the Supreme Court has halted this unprecedented power grab for now, today’s decision underscores the importance of electing a president in November who will put a conservative on the Court to defend our Constitution.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions:

Today’s decision in United States v. Texas is not just a victory for Texas, Alabama, and a majority of the States in this great nation who challenged the lawless actions of the Obama Administration, but a victory for the American people and for the rule of law.

Read his full statement here.

Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne:

Once again, the Obama Administration has suffered defeat due to their failure to follow the Constitution and the laws of our country. This decision is a major victory for the rule of law and our opposition to illegal executive amnesty. Instead of continuing to encourage amnesty, the executive branch should enforce the immigration laws already on the books and finally secure our borders.

Alabama 2nd District U.S. Rep. Martha Roby:

The Supreme Court’s decision affirms the separation of powers, one of the most fundamental governing principles in our Constitution. The president cannot legislate or rule like a king. I believe this decision sends a strong message to President Obama and future presidents that constitutional order and the rule of law must prevail in this country.

Our illegal immigration problem is very real. President Obama’s amnesty orders only served to exacerbate the problem by inviting even more illegal immigrants to cross our border and by poisoning any progress Congress could make toward meaningful solutions.

Amnesty won’t solve our immigration problems. We have to secure the border and enact better polices that discourage illegal entry, punish lawbreakers and promote America’s economic interests.

Alabama 3rd District U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers:

Today’s decision to halt President Obama’s executive amnesty is an important victory for the rule of law and Constitutional government. I was proud to sign on to amicus briefs throughout this case and to give the House an official voice in the Supreme Court by voting for H. Res. 639 in March. I firmly believe the President’s unilateral act to grant legal status to millions of illegal immigrants clearly undermines the power of Congress and the Constitution’s system of checks and balances. Congress must move forward with legislation to secure our borders and create real consequences for people who openly flaunt our immigration laws.

Alabama 6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer:

Today the Supreme Court put the power back in the hands the American people, not President Obama’s,” said Palmer.  “Their 4-4 tied decision thwarts the President’s attempt to unconstitutionally overrule current immigration laws. Laws are made by the people through their elected representative, not through executive action. We must work together to enforce our current immigration laws and secure our borders, but today we celebrate this victory for the American people.

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange:

This is a strong victory for the Constitution, the rule of law and for the conservative Attorneys General who took this important case all the way to the highest court in the land and prevailed,” said Attorney General Strange. 

Today’s Supreme Court 4-4 tie vote effectively blocks President Obama’s illegal executive amnesty program, allowing the lower federal court ruling against the immigration program to stand.

Alabama was one of more than two dozen states joined in a legal challenge of President Obama’s plan to grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.  Today’s decision should send a strong signal to the President and his administration that they cannot continue to ignore the Constitution, Congress and the rule of law.