Use of executive orders marks dangerous precedent

To the editor: 

There certainly is no denying that the laws governing immigration must be changed and updated to reflect the realities of the changing world. There is also no doubt that we are a country governed under the rule of law, whose bedrock foundation is the Constitution of the United States of America. 

The changes to our immigration laws that President Barack Obama is proposing to implement by executive order would change a law passed by Congress and signed by a president. In my view, Mr. Obama would be exceed his constitutional authority by this action, destroy the principle of balance of power, be guilty of abuse of power and create a constitutional crisis.

The real threat to our constitutional government is that the Republicans would allow the executive order to go into effect and thereby establish a precedent, a precedent that would allow any president to change a law by the stroke of his pen.

HOWARD RING