From 2011 until his resignation in 2018, American politician Blake Farenthold represented Texas as a U.S. Representative. Throughout his political career, he frequently expressed conservative views on immigration and the power of the state.

Among the noteworthy remarks ascribed to him is a discussion concerning financing for initiatives concerning undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as minors. These people are sometimes called "Dreamers," after the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors), which offers some undocumented youth a route to citizenship.

"I did not support funding for measures that deferred deportation actions against these Dreamers," Farenthold said. He maintained that such choices shouldn't be made exclusively by the president since doing so might result in an uneven application of the law throughout the nation. His position, which suggested that presidential orders without legislative support can erode democratic processes, placed a strong emphasis on the value of group decision-making and the rule of law.

This statement draws attention to a larger debate in American politics concerning the role of different branches of government in implementing immigration laws as well as the balance between executive authority and congressional oversight. Just as a ship's captain cannot unilaterally alter navigation plans without consulting the crew, it would be unjust for one individual to determine which rules should be observed or disregarded when everyone else must.