The Trump administration is defending the Trump administration’s immigration and border policy, even as lawmakers across the country are criticizing the administration.
The administration is arguing that Trump’s executive orders on immigration were not legally required and are instead an effort to make border security a top priority.
In a statement to reporters Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the administration “continues to prioritize security of our borders and the national security of the United States.”
The statement said “no president can declare war on an open border and claim to have done everything he can to secure it.
…
It is the job of our government to secure our borders, not to declare war against it.”
The administration also has defended the use of temporary measures, such as suspending the H-2A visa program for foreign workers, saying it is essential to “protect our workers from fraud, abuse and misuse.”
Kelly said it’s important to “ensure the safety of our workers and our families” and that “any attempt to deny workers the opportunity to work in our country will not be tolerated.”
The Trump Administration also says that “no one is above the law.”
Kelly added that “all of us are sworn to uphold the law, including those who commit felonies.”
Trump’s immigration policies have become a political football in recent weeks as his administration has been under fire for its crackdown on sanctuary cities.
The crackdown has sparked outrage from some Republicans who say it’s unconstitutional.
On Friday, the House of Representatives voted unanimously to repeal Trump’s order.
That action will allow the courts to review a portion of the order, which Trump signed Friday.
But the order will still not go into effect.