Posted on 06/15/2012 10:35:05 AM PDT by Kaslin
So, the “framing” economic speech yesterday was a bust — yeah, they’re going to need us to move away from that ol’ chestnut pretty quickly — so here comes the next big talking point in the Obama-campaign wheelhouse.
President Obama has decided that the Homeland Security Department will no longer deport younger illegal immigrants who haven’t broken the law, and will instead issue them work permits.
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.
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.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was to announce the new policy Friday, one week before President Barack Obama plans to address the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials’ annual conference in Orlando, Fla. Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney is scheduled to speak to the group on Thursday.
Updates to follow…
Update: At least as far as the Latino community is concerned (and opinion abounds on the electoral significance of Latinos as a voting group, and whether they really vote so monolithically), this is going to present a stiff challenge for Romney’s campaign. As ABC points out:
The Obama administration is likely to deny that politics played a role in the announcement, but the timing is ideal for the president’s reelection campaign. In the GOP primary, Mitt Romney adopted strictly conservative positions against illegal immigration in his effort to woo right-wing voters. He backs a strong fence along the border with Mexico, opposes most amnesty and boasts of his move as Massachusetts governor to deny in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. …
Obama’s announcement today is likely to curry favor with Hispanics, a key growing voting bloc who could determine the winner in November in important states like Florida, Colorado and Nevada. The president currently beats Romney among Hispanics in polls, but most Latinos say they disapprove of his deportation policy.
Deportation rates under President Obama have actually been relatively high — a point about which many Latino voters and immigration advocates have been displeased. This could be a crucial appeasement-move that will inspire Latinos to get to polls in November.
Can President Obama even do this without Congressional approval? I’m not sure, but then again, it hardly matters. If he can, great; if he can’t, great: It’s just another jab he can aim at an “obstructionist,” “do-nothing” Congress.
Update (Ed): So …. he’s going to hand out hundreds of thousands of work permits when unemployment is at 8.2% nominal, 14.8% U-6, and the civilian participation rate is near the 30-year low Obama set last month (now 63.8%)? The only thing this accomplishes is driving the labor rate further downward and the unemployment rate further upward. Work permits make sense when you’re creating jobs, but not when jobs are scarce. I’m not sure that’s going to endear Obama to unions and blue-collar voters struggling to find work already.
Update (back to Erika): A calculated move to steal some of Sen. Marco Rubio’s alternative-DREAM-Act thunder? It’s widely known that Sen. Rubio has been crafting legislation that would give visas to undocumented immigrants who were brought here as children if they attend college or join the military, though it would not provide legal permanent residency — and President Obama’s plan sounds pretty darn similar. Plenty of Republicans aren’t exactly thanking Rubio for his upcoming proposal, but as a tea-party rockstar with Hispanic roots, Rubio is a major threat to Democrats’ claim that they’re the best political party for Latinos’ interests. Team Obama definitely needed to get out in front on this one.
Update: Here are some immediate reactions from our Congresspeople concerning the Obama campaign’s — er, sorry, I mean, the White House’s — newest immigration policy.
Rep. Allen West, R-Florida
“This is yet another example of executive branch overreach. We have a legislative process that ensures representative governance by the consent of the American people. This action should be crafted into legislation, debated in committee and brought before the House and Senate for vote, with accordance of our Constitutional Republic way. Secretary Napolitano is an unelected administrative bureaucrat who does not have the right to make governing decisions for this country. It is apparent that the goal of the Obama administration is not to govern, but rule by edict. This again is a reflection of the desperation of President Obama and his liberal progressive disciples as November draws nearer. …
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey
“For all the young people who call this country their home but have been unable to fulfill their dreams, I am profoundly grateful to the President and the Administration for suspending the deportation of Dreamers. For these young men and women who want to become doctors, teachers, police officers and soldiers, this announcement will change their lives forever.”
Once again the arrogant Muslim illegal President wipes his anus with the Constitution.
One would think we should be able to hear the screaming on Capitol Hill for miles.
Once again all is quiet.
No one wants to upset the Hispanic vote in an election year. As if any Hispanic would vote for a Republican anyway.Obama just bought them lock, stock, and barrel.
Who cares if he did it illegally.
Illegally has become a meaningless word in America.
To all unemployed citizens, especially those who have BO’s back:
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey
“For all the young people who call this country their home but have been unable to fulfill their dreams, I am profoundly grateful to the President and the Administration for suspending the deportation of Dreamers. For these young men and women who want to become doctors, teachers, police officers and soldiers, this announcement will change their lives forever.”
I asked this in another thread on this subject...
why doesn’t anyone do anything to stop him? I mean Congress. They have allowed him to destroy the Constitutional 3 branches. He is a dictator. Why do they just let all of this happen with hardly any fight?
La Raza will sue because of Age Discrimination.
The would-be dictator obviously is trying to import liberal voters and gain votes from mostly Mexicans in the process.
Yes, I just wrote Boehner and my Representative and asked them to do something. If Obama can do this, there’s nothing stopping him from doing anything he wants
Unfortunately it will also draw the votes of the open borders crowd who will love this move.
We taxpayers simply need to stop paying taxes. This isn’t OUR country anymore! Our representatives represent foreign interests, not ours.
If Congress wants to pass a law granting a special status to illegal immigrants who came here as children and who have not committed any other offenses that is one thing, but to bypass the legislature for a political glory moment is how the seeds of tyranny are sown.
If such a law was proposed it should contain some condition for community or military service and such status should have a probation period with full citizenship being granted only upon completion of that period.
One condition would be to show that the person requesting the status is currently employed or if not employed has at least been employed for a minimal number of weeks per year in the past. The only exception being for those enrolled full time in school.
They should also have to show that they are intent on becoming U.S. citizens and make restitution for any government aid they received.
IMPEACHMENT. He is now dictating law creation. Dictating selective law enforcement. With over 8 percent unemployment, he is giving jobs to illegals months before an election.
IMPEACHMENT.
The virulent anti-Romney posters on this site would simply dismiss Romney’s stand against illegal immigration and amnesty as politically motivated lies; and even if true, not enough to offset his liberal stands on other issues. Ditto on repeal of Obamacare.
I’ve called my reps, suggest everyone else do the same. They need to be flooded with calls. I was surprised I got right through. I know fighting this jerk has been exhausting but we have to keep up the fight now more than ever.
What difference does it make if our Community Agitator continually ignores the Constitution and acts more like a Diktator, Potentate and Emperor than President?
No big deal, NOT according to a few of our more "PRINCIPLED" Hate-Romney/Mormons Freeps who will show up any minute and "Try" (as up to now they have FAILED miserably in making their case) and convince all that NO MATTER WHAT Dear Leader has done; continues to do; and more than likely WILL make the 1st term seem mild by comparison if reelected, Mittens WOULD BE WORSE; is more dangerous, eeeevil, a threat to our Republic, blah, blah, blah.
Methinks they should put down the crack pipe or lay off the Kool Aid.
I say we give our leaders 2 hours to come out and fight or we work agressively for their ouster.
coup d'état!
If a state (like AZ) has people they want to deport and the feds won’t do it, are the feds compensating the state for the care and maintainence of said person? Maybe we should “deport” them all to DC? That’s the only place that has money.
Do I still have to pay a fine if I don’t wear a seat belt? I mean WTF? Is he going to empty the prisons next?
Instead of complaining will you help us getting the majority, preferable the Super Majority in the Senate back plus add more seats to the House. Or do you just not care because you prefer some third party?
King Hussein just committed a crime. He broke Federal Immigration Laws. He spit on our Constitution by circumventing our legally elected Representatives.
Congress get off of your complacent rear ends and defend the Laws of the United States and the Constitution.
Now is the time to stop this petty dictator.
That’s what it sounded like, he was describing himself!!!!
He's just following Bush's lead.
This is just a march towards total open borders, a one world globalist agenda...Divide the united.
What American tax payers want has become absolutely meaningless.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.