I guess the question is whether the Dems and the President could really get away with this without starting a civil war. I think that one of the reasons it took so long to bring them to task last time was that the anti-immigration forces did not realize what was happening until well into the process, and even then, they were not well organized. Such will not be the case next time. If the feds try to do an amnesty over the objections of the American people, they won’t be able to do it without being noticed, and the folks who finally forced them to clamp down on the border will be ready to go after them.
If the Congress and President decide to do it anyway, though, there is nothing the people can do to stop them except either vote them out, which raises a timing problem, or load their guns and gird for street battles.
There will be plenty of RINOs in the senate to help them. Since their defeat in 2007, they have tried to pass amnesty piecemeal, e.g. the Dream Act, the Ag bill, the Baca amendment, etc. They will try to fool the American people by not calling it an amnesty, i.e., paying fines, getting to the back of the line, earned path to citizenship, etc.
It will be easier to fight with a Dem in the WH. The Dems want this to be a bipartisan bill so they can gain some cover.
...and the folks who finally forced them to clamp down on the border will be ready to go after them.
I hope that is the case, but these people are persistent and devious. They want to wear us down. You can only cry wolf so many times. It is difficult to mobilize people time and again. If it does pass, it will change the political landscape in this country. It cuts across party lines so the Reps would be wise to remain principled on the issue.
I attended a CATO meeting on Wednesday that had an open borders type, Jason Riley of the WSJ, promoting his new book, "Let them in." Michael Barone spoke as well. His remarks were disappointing. He was saying that the anti-immigrant Reps would have to adapt or die as a party.