The Republican candidate for the new first congressional district says his democrat opponent’s support of the president’s immigration policy ending the deportation of young illegals who have not been in trouble shows a lack of understanding of the U.S. Constitution.
Democrat Bruce Braley said this week he favors a comprehensive reform plan, but he supports the Democrat president’s action on the issue that has stalled in Congress. Opponent Ben Lange responded.
“I think it’s ironic that Bruce Braley says that we need to have an honest debate about it and then when it comes time that an agreement isn’t reached on a particular area of policy — whether its immigration or any policy for that matter — then to support the president to do an end run around the Constitution, the rule of law. Here in America, especially in Iowa, we just expect to be treated fairly and equally under the rule of law,” Lange says.
He says president overstepped his authority. “For a president to get up there and announce an edict, and not even by executive order, but by press conference that he is changing the rule of law and now is going to make up his own mind about what he thinks we all need as Americans. I think it is flat out irresponsible and I think it shows a lack of understanding on Bruce Braley’s part, understanding the limited constitutional role of the federal government,” Lange says.
Lange says he is familiar with the role immigrants play in our state because of his father’s work in the meatpacking industry. Lange says, “As an Iowan, I’m all for immigration, just not illegal immigration. And when you ask these individuals that came here through legal channels that worked in the meatprocessing facility with my father, and you asked them what they think of illegal immigration, they’ll tell you the same thing. They say look, we came here the right way. We came here through the rule of law and we came here to America because we expect everyone to be treated the same way under the rule of law.”
Braley and others say the young illegals that were brought here by their parents had no choice and should not be sent home. Lange says it’s not an issue for the president to decide.
“And that’s fine if that’s their position with it, but take it to the American people,” Lange says. “Take it to the elective officials that decide, the legislative branch. Take it to the legislative branch that the founders set up to make those policy decisions. Here in America, we don’t believe that one person has the authority to dictate to us the rule of law.
Lange lives in Independence and is challenging Braley for the second time in the first district that was redrawn after the Census. Braley, who lives in Waterloo, is seeking his fourth term.