I’m wondering if someone in the Obama administration could point to the legislation that the duly elected Legislative branch has passed that allows this
(AP) The Obama administration will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives. The election-year initiative addresses a top priority of an influential Latino electorate that has been vocal in its opposition to administration deportation policies.
Even the AP can’t stop themselves in pointing out that this is simply campaign year politics, rather than serious policy. What Democrats always forget when they essentially push some type of amnesty is that these people still can’t vote, and the other illegals that want these policies can’t vote, either. And those who came to the US and obtained their citizenship the proper way aren’t particularly keen on voting for those who give illegals a free pass.
The policy change, described to The Associated Press by two senior administration officials, will affect as many as 800,000 immigrants who have lived in fear of deportation. It also bypasses Congress and partially achieves the goals of the so-called DREAM Act, a long-sought but never enacted plan to establish a path toward citizenship for young people who came to the United States illegally but who have attended college or served in the military.
Yes, most of these kids had no choice, their parents brought them. And, yes, perhaps we can make some accommodations for those who have worked to make themselves a valuable part of American society, rather than drains on our social safety net programs. But, we have a Legislative branch for a reason. The Executive Branch can’t simply make up the rules. Mr. I Was A Constitutional Professor doesn’t seem to understand the Constitution very well.
The work permits will be for two years, and have no renewal limit. So, while Americans are suffering 8%+ unemployment, Obama wants to offer jobs to illegals.
Michelle Malkin: “Putting politics above national security and the rule of law.”
Weasel Zippers: “Unbelievable abuse of power.”
Jammie Wearing Fool: “When all else fails, be sure to divide the nation even further.”
Evening update: I tried to add a few more thoughts and links earlier, but, for whatever reason, my Droid WordPress app was cutting off everything after the second excerpt, even though not a long post.
Anyhow, I find it interesting that approximately 24 hours after pivoting back to jobs and the economy for the umpteenth time PBO has shifted away from jobs and the economy, at least jobs for those who are currently eligible for the small pool of jobs. Giving illegals the ability to legally obtain jobs means, as mentioned above, that there will be more competition for the small amount of jobs available, knocking Americans out of the running. More competition can mean lower wages.
Rep. Steve King plans to sue the Obama administration, as the Daily Caller reports. I’ve also heard that he first plans on demanding an explanation from Team O as to the Constitutional and legal reasoning behind this “immunity” policy.
Mitt Romney and Marco Rubio somewhat agree with the new policy. Again, I don’t have a huge problem with the policy, America is a generous, welcoming nation. But, what happens then? Will we, and by we, I mean Democrats and squishy Republicans, say we now shouldn’t deport the parents? Will this create the impetus for more illegals to come, after they had been leaving the country because of the poor economy? Will they then be naturalized, and given the ability to vote, jumping ahead of those who applied for citizenship the legal way?
The Lonely Conservative also wonders if the ability to suddenly vote in November is next.
The problem I have is going around Congress, the duly appointed branch of government which is deemed with passing laws.
Just One Minute points out, per the LA Times, that an executive order is only in affect as long as Obama is president. So, if PBO is voted out come November, this executive order is null and void.
Finally, cruising all the Memeorandum links, I can’t find any liberals who seem to have a problem with the president legislating by executive order, while they had a huge problem with Bush using executive orders, even when within the law (which they mostly were). They typically freaked out, calling Bush’s use of EOs a gross abuse of power. Now? Not a peep.
Oh, and as many have pointed out, including Marco Rubio in the above link, this little power grab by Obama will make it harder to come to some sort of agreement on actual long term legislation.
