Mitch McConnell says executive amnesty will lead to more immigrant deaths

Soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says that President Obama's impending executive action granting temporary amnesty to illegal immigrants already in the U.S. will encourage people from Central America to risk their lives on a perilous journey some may never complete.

The Washington Times reports that during a speech on the Senate floor, McConnell reminded his listeners of the surge of illegal immigrant children and families who crossed the border earlier this year.

McConnell said that Obama's promises of legal status and his administration's previous non-deportation policies brought the young people here, and that "the effects of this action could be just as tragic."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

McConnell also assured Americans that the newly elected Republicans won't tolerate the president's executive action: "When the newly elected representatives of the people take their seats," he said, "they will act," though he didn't specify what their exact plans are.