Rep. Gosar: Amnesty Flight Program ‘An Egregious Waste of Taxpayer Money’

Earlier this week, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) sent a letter to Pres. Obama calling for the end of the Central American Minors (CAM) Refugee/Parole Program. The program, which has been accepting applications since December 1, 2014, flies individuals from Central American countries to the U.S. for the purposes of providing an “orderly alternative to the dangerous journey that some… are currently taking to the United States.” The letter was signed by 37 other Members of Congress.

Upon sending the letter, Rep. Gosar released the following statement:

Congress has made no new authorizations or appropriations to send planes to Central America for the purposes of flying illegal immigrants back to the U.S. Given our current national security threats and border crises, I am appalled that the administration would create and implement a new amnesty program that will incentivize further illegal immigration.

President Obama previously used executive fiat to give amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants in the U.S. Now he is planning on sending planes to go and pick up their family members in Central American countries. This program is, at best, contrary to the rule of law and, at worst, unconstitutional. My colleagues and I have sent a very clear demand, calling on President Obama to immediately terminate the flawed CAM program. This program is an egregious waste of taxpayer money and sets a dangerous precedent of executive lawlessness that must be stopped.

According to Rep. Gosar, the Central American Minors (CAM) Refugee/Parole Program requires parolees to pay for their flights and medical care but will provide cash, loans, as well as help with travel and medical assistance to refugees participating in the program at taxpayer expense.

The statement goes on to point out that during a hearing last week, a Department of Homeland Security official indicated “some CAM program participants are eligible because they have a family member living in the U.S. who was one of the beneficiaries of President Obama’s previous deferred action amnesty executive orders.”

The 37 members of the House who joined Rep. Gosar in the is effort include Reps. Brian Babin (R-Texas), Lou Barletta (R-Pa.), Diane Black (R-Tenn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Rod Blum (R-Iowa), Charles Boustany (R-La.), Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.), Mo Brooks (R-S.C.), Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Mike Conaway (R-Texas), Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), John Duncan (R-Tenn.), Bill Flores (R-Texas), Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), Sam Johnson (R-Texas), Walter Jones (R-N.C), Steve King (R-Iowa), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Kenny Marchant (R-Texas), John Mica (R-Fla.), Pete Olson (R-Texas), Steve Palazzo (R-Miss.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.), David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Randy Weber (R-Texas) and Ted Yoho (R-Fla.).

Read Rep. Gosar’s full letter