Lamar Smith: Obama 'Declaring War on the American People'

The former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said President Obama’s immigration executive order announced tonight is a “declaration of war” against America.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the current chairman of the House Space, Science and Technology Committee, is an attorney by trade.

“The president knows that his executive amnesty is not what the American people want, and it is not what Congress wants. That is why he delayed making this announcement until after this November’s election,” Smith said in a statement.

“President Obama has put the interests of an extreme wing of his party above the interests of American workers,” the chairman continued. “Some have said that the actions he is taking this week equal a declaration of war on Republicans.”

“I believe he is actually declaring war on the American people and our democracy.”

Smith added that “as elected representatives of the American people, my colleagues and I intend to listen to our constituents in the coming weeks.”

“We must restore the rule of law and the people’s faith in their democratic republic once more,” he said.

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), a former prosecutor who now leads the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, said Obama “may seek a fight with Republicans in Congress, but in reality he is fighting with founders of this republic and the carefully crafted separation of powers.”

“The thread that holds the tapestry of our country together is respect for and adherence to the rule of law. The law is our greatest unifier and our greatest equalizer. Attempts to undermine the law via executive fiat, regardless of motivation, are dangerous,” Gowdy said.

“Whether previous administrations acted outside of constitutional boundaries is not license to do the same. The president himself recognized his inability to do what he just did— 22 separate times,” he continued. “This action is not only detrimental to any chance in the new Congress for a sustainable, long-term solution on immigration, but also to the bedrock of our system of government— respect for the rule of law.”

Gowdy added that “when the executive branch acts outside of constitutional boundaries, the legislative branch must use all powers afforded it to respond and restore the constitutional equilibrium.”

“This is not a Republican or Democrat issue,” he said. “Rather, it should hasten the resolve of all Americans to make certain her elected officials honor the foundational document they swore to protect and defend.”