GOP rep: Immigration need ‘doesn’t justify’ White House’s actions

Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) on Friday said that, like many Republicans, he agreed on substance with much of what President Obama said the night before on immigration, but he can’t stand for the way he bypasses Congress.

{mosads}”What was aggravating is I agreed with a lot of what he said, but it doesn’t justify his behavior and his action,” Schock said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” less than 12 hours after Obama announced sweeping executive actions that could protect millions from deportation.

Schock seemed skeptical when asked if the House would be able to work with the president on an immigration overhaul.

“Well, I think the president has blown up the trust necessary for us to negotiate with him in good faith,” he said.

But he also argued that if the House did pass some sort of immigration measure, it would not be “sweeping.”

“It’s not going to be a behemoth, massive bill like the Senate passed,” he said.

The president’s plan would offer legal status to some immigrants, expand a deferred action program for people brought here illegally as children, and offer more visas to highly skilled workers. The order also instructs the Department of Homeland Security to focus on deporting immigrants with criminal connections.