Jamie Raskin Sounds Off on Executive Overreach: “We Had a Revolution Against a King”

The ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee discusses Trump’s interpretation of executive power and its implications for immigration policy.

Image Rights: Facebook Profile of Rep. Raskin

Last week, Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the newly appointed ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee answered our immigration questions. Given his a background as a constitutional scholar, we asked about the constitutionality of President Trump’s latest flurry of executive orders. As always with our immigration Q&As we include them below complete and unabridged so that you know what we’re asking, and what lawmakers are saying in their own words.

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Nico: President Trump, as you’ve seen, came out with a flurry of Executive Orders. Some focused on birthright citizenship, others on immigration. What do you make of these things, which has made people confused and feeling uncertain?

Raskin: I think we probably have to start with the problem with increasing economic concentration and oligarchical control over our politics, our government, and our media systems. Trump and the GOP have proved themselves not serious about addressing the border problem, much less immigration systems generally. That’s a series of opportunistic throwaway lines for them to distract people from what’s really going on.

Nico: Do you think his Executive Orders have weight? Do you think the Courts will shoot them down? Is there hope for immigrant Americans or undocumented immigrants?

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Raskin: Well, Executive Orders have alot of weight within the American rule of law. Of course, the President cannot legislate, but the President can operate within his own proper sphere under Article 2 to promulgate executive orders.

Nico: So, is this looking pretty damning for a lot of people?

Raskin: Well, you have to go through executive order by executive order. Certainly, the President has no power to override and redefine Birthright citizenship in America. That’s the first sentence of the 14th Amendment.

Nico: So, is this (executive order) something we just throw out?

Raskin: No, he will get shut down by the Courts on that. Even the Trump compromised Courts will not be able to digest Donald Trump’s devouring of Birthright citizenship in the country. But there may be closer cases where a Trump tilted Court is going to give him what he wants.