How Pat Quinn Is Violating His Oath

When Pat Quinn was sworn in as Illinois' new governor on January 29, he swore an oath that included upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States. So far, he has been complicit in violating the very US Constitution that he swore to honor. Every minute that goes by without Governor Quinn demanding that the State of Illinois stop protecting illegal immigrants is another minute that he violates the part of his oath in which he swore to uphold and protect the US Consitution. Here's why. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution outlines some of the powers granted to Congress. It states that "The Congress shall have power to.... establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization." This means that the US Constitutional gives Congress - and only Congress - the power to establish all laws and rules of naturalization or immigration. Not the states, but Congress and only Congress. Yet, the State of Illinois is known as a "sanctuary state," meaning it ignores and violates federal laws - laws made by Congress - regarding immigration policy. In September, 2007 the US Department of Justice sued the State of Illinois for violating the US Constitution and federal laws pertaining to immigration policy, specifically Illinois' House Bill 1744. A DoJ press release summed it up: The Department of Justice today filed a lawsuit in federal district court seeking to invalidate an Illinois state law that attempts to prevent employers from using DHS's E-Verify system, which allows them to check in real-time whether new hires are authorized to work in the United States. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that a law passed earlier this year by the Illinois legislature and signed by the Governor [Rod Blagojevich] that prohibits employers from enrolling in the Department's E-Verify system is invalid. "E-verify or the Basic Pilot Program, authorized by Congress, is the on-line system that allows employers to verify whether new hires are allowed to work in the United States," said Carl Nichols, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Civil Division. "Today's lawsuit seeks to invalidate an Illinois state law that frustrates our ability to assist employers in making sure their workforce is legal, and in doing so conflicts with federal law." That Illinois law, passed in 2007 - Section 12(a) of the Illinois Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act - prohibited employers in Illinois "from enrolling in the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program." Employers use E-Verify to confirm that new hires are legally authorized to work in the United States. On Sept. 24, 2007, an editorial on Illinois Review asked this: So, are we to expect Attorney General Lisa Madigan to rise to the defense of Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Illinois General Assembly, who are being sued by the feds for passing a state law allow federal immigration laws to be usurped? Illinois Review also noted that, in response to the DoJ suit, Congressman Peter Roskam (R-8) issued a statement, in which he said, "Governor Blagojevich is attempting to preempt federal law by creating a virtual sanctuary within the State of Illinois for illegal aliens. Subsequently, the Department of Justice has filed suit in federal court today, and I applaud their actions." Today, Illinois still forbid the use of E-Verify, but the law is still being litigated (source). In other words, the State of Illinois is busy spending time and your tax dollars defending pro-illegal alien laws that violate Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution. That's the same US Constitution that Pat Quinn just swore (again) to uphold. By the way, Illinois' Attorney General Lisa Madigan also swore an oath to uphold the US Constitution. So did each and every Illinois State Legislator. Governor Blagojevich is no more, but today we have no indication that Governor Quinn will be any different regarding the violation of federal law - and the US Constitution that he swore to uphold - as regards the sanctuary of illegal aliens and the setting of a non-uniform immigration policy. RELATED: Reps. Roskam and Shuler Urge Omaba Not to Delay E-Verify Requirement United States: Final Rule Amends FAR Requiring E-Verify Homeland Security Takes Strong Measures to Fight Illegal Hiring Illinois House approves driver's licenses for illegal aliens Harvard Jr. High transforms into Mexican consulate illinoisreview: Illegal Aliens Cost Illinois Taxpayers $3 Billion+ Illegal aliens captured with HAZMAT licences Illinois bends to feds on weeding out illegal workers: The Swamp Durbin takes off the gloves – and mask Most in Illinois favor laws targeting illegal immigration CNB RSS Feed