Washington, D.C. — 

U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, tonight issued the following statement in advance of the president’s announcement of executive action on immigration:

“President Obama’s decision to move forward unilaterally demonstrates a willful disregard of the American people. The president’s policies and go-it-alone approach were soundly rejected on election night, but he doesn’t appear to be interested in listening to the American people.

“The president has stated more than 20 times that he lacks the authority to take this executive action. He may have chosen to ignore the American people, but congressional Republicans won’t. We hear their concerns, and we will take action.”