Thursday night, many Texas elected officials spoke out against President Barack Obama's Executive Order on immigration.

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Texas Governor-elect, and current Attorney General, Greg Abbott (R) released the following statement, pledging action against the administration:

“President Obama has circumvented Congress and deliberately bypassed the will of the American people, eroding the very foundation of our nation’s Constitution and bestowing a legacy of lawlessness. Texans have witnessed firsthand the costs and consequence caused by President Obama’s dictatorial immigration policy and now we must work together toward a solution in fixing our broken immigration system. Following tonight’s pronouncement, I am prepared to immediately challenge President Obama in court, securing our state's sovereignty and guaranteeing the rule of law as it was intended under the Constitution."

Governor Rick Perry's (R) statement in the wake of the president's speech was just as pointed: “In Texas we know firsthand the problems brought by illegal immigration and bad federal policy. As we saw with the tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors who came across the border, a bad policy led to children being put at risk. The president's decision tonight will lead to more illegal immigration, not less. It is time for the president and Congress to secure our border, followed by meaningful reforms. There is no more time for political grandstanding.”

Newly elected State Senator Charles Perry (R- Lubbock) says the president's action damages the fabric of American society on many levels:

"Tonight, law abiding citizens will be relegated to a 2nd class status with a mere stroke of the pen. President Obama is willing to violate the very fabric of our constitutional law in order to give legal status to citizens of other countries who have have willingly and deliberately violated the laws of this nation.

"Voters should choose their leaders, leaders shouldn't choose their voters.  Thousands of individuals and families have obeyed the law and waited lawfully for their citizenship applications to be processed and accepted. This move is not only unfair to those individuals, but it encourages people to enter in our country through the backdoor and not through legitimate means.

"As our Governor Perry stated earlier today: "There already is a path to citizenship in this country...it doesn't need to be changed."

"The effects will be immediate and irreversible. We spend roughly $6,500 on Medicaid and $1,500 on food stamps per individual in Texas each year (2011 numbers). Every child we add to our education system costs roughly $12,500 per year. Our funding for these programs and others are already stretched thin, infusing more people into the system will only exasperate the problem.

"Even if the President denies these individuals eligibility to Medicaid and Welfare, we cannot inquire about immigration status in regards to public education or admittance in the emergency room.

"As we increase the magnet through amnesty, there is no doubt in my mind we will see a huge surge as millions more illegally cross our border over the next few months.

"It is imperative that the Congress and the Judiciary call this for what it is - an act of tyranny - it threatens the economic and social stability for the poorest of the poor and burdens the states with unsustainable costs, if not insurmountable.

"I pray for our elected officials to stand up and fight for our rights as law abiding citizens as a nation. Our federal representatives need to draw a line in the sand and refuse to fund the items in this executive order."

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Finally, Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R- Lubbock) spoke out against President Obama as well:

“I am disappointed that President Obama has once again decided to ignore the Constitution, our system of checks and balances, and the desires of the American people. Instead of working with a new Congress, the President has decided to go it alone and use another executive power grab. The American people are tired of it. The President’s failure to enforce our immigration laws is an affront to the millions of people and families who have played by the rules, saved long and hard to become American citizens, and spent years in line in the hope of someday having the opportunity to live the American Dream. I have had the honor of working with and assisting so many individuals and families in the 19th District of Texas through the legal immigration process. They deserve better from this Administration.

“While the President doubles down on his legacy of lawlessness, tonight Congress must double down on our efforts to hold the President accountable to the American people and stand up to defend the Constitution. We must use all available tools to stop this power grab.”

In his weekly conference call yesterday (Wednesday), Texas U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R) stated that Republicans on Capitol Hill were not going to use a government shutdown, nor impeachment, to fight against the immigration Executive Order. That sentiment may change after President Obama's plan was unveiled Thursday night.

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