It’s amazing how one interaction on Capitol Hill can so perfectly capture what’s wrong with the federal government. Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono was questioning ICE Executive Associate Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations Matthew Albence yesterday, and Albence noted that individuals who had been held at the border were in detention centers because they’d broken the law.
Hirono countered that the illegal immigrants "have broken a law only as deemed so by [President Donald Trump]."
Albence pointed out that Trump did not create the law that criminalizes unauthorized border crossings. That law was passed by Congress in 1952.
“I’m confused,” Hirono concluded.
"I'm Confused": ICE official has to explain to Democrat Senator Mazie Hirono that illegal immigrants break the law. pic.twitter.com/lgM9WhHWco
— Ryan Saavedra 🇺🇸 (@RealSaavedra) July 31, 2018
Apparently.
Here we have a federal official supposedly investigating immigration issues who doesn’t actually know or understand immigration law. This demonstrates once again that our federal officials have no respect for the law and don’t actually care what it says.
But Hirono’s comments also reveal something deeper. She seems to believe that President Trump has the power to interpret the law however he sees fit. Even though her claims are incorrect, her conception of the executive branch is more akin to a king than an American president.
It’s no wonder -- over the last 100 years the courts have granted the President far more power than the founders intended, and presidents have used that power to go around Congress and legislate with their “pen and their phone.”
It’s time to put a stop to this. An Article V Convention of States can put the people back in the national driver’s seat by reinforcing the principle that Congress -- and Congress alone -- can make laws. The President can’t use executive orders to accomplish his policy goals he can’t convince Congress to support. If Congress doesn’t support it, neither do the people, and it shouldn’t happen until they do.
