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.”
” 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. “
I understand the next presidential act will be to unleash the IRS Gestapo storm troops on legal citizens to pay for this new experiment government.
Don’t blame Obama for he is so ignorant that he knows not what he is doing......BLAME THE REPUBLICANS for their go along to get along politically correct attitudes and policies that allowed this to happen.
Romney had better come out immediately and stand for country, law and freedoms. If he does not, well......Obama wins hands down before the election even starts.
Make the private sector like the 3rd world, dependent on government, destroy our sovereignty, divide the united.
BTW, there are now more unionized government employees, than in the private sector.
We now work for the "Public servants".
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-12-19-tancredo_N.htm
DES MOINES — Rep. Tom Tancredo dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday and endorsed rival Mitt Romney.Tancredo’s name was most associated with his fight against illegal immigration,
He is testing the waters for final takeover..if congress allows this we have no representation and the country will be transformed into Obamma land..
“He is testing the waters for final takeover..if congress allows this we have no representation and the country will be transformed into Obamma land..”
Accurate.
If your reply was not intended to be arrogant and presumptive, you might want to re-read before you hit the post button. My question was serious. I find it hard to believe that *all* of the Dems and Indys are ok with what is going on. As for the second 2 sentences of your post.. You have no idea who I am or what I do. Try to be nice.
Obama the Destroyer of the United States Constitution, Obama the Unoriginal Colored-man, Obama a Caricature of Ivy League education. Obama the choice of the Politically Correct. Obama the Racist.
Obama, the Snake Oil Salesman who lied to his own nation...selling them the most toxic testimonials of all while relieving them of their freedoms.
Obama was raised to hate America...No Second Term For The Marxist. Elect the American who loves his country!!!
Trolling for votes=desperate
If I offended you I sincerely apologize. It was not my intention. I get frustrated when someone ask why doesn’t Congress do anything about it, but forgetting that we only the House. Many bills are stuck in the Senate because dingy Harry does not let them go forward
Are you claiming President Bush granted amnety to illelas by executive order? You know damn well, he did no such thing
Are you claiming President Bush granted amnesty to illegals by executive order? You know damn well, he did no such thing
The “Dream Act” was voted down. It included the same provisions oblabla has now granted.
Why is this, oblabla’s act, not a direct, calculated, brazen violation of what is already the law of the land and a law that has been affirmed and actions now specifically prohibited by rejection of the “Dream Act”?
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.
1. Are you denying Bush attempted to shove amnesty down the American tax payers throats?
2. Are you denying under Bush, during war time, stood by and even aided and abetted tens of million entering this country illegally, while he told us to be compassionate?
3. Are you denying under Bush, Americans tired of protesting, begging, screaming, voting and petitioning for relief from this epic violent invasion were called "vigilantes" when some had a belly full of Bush open border policies and inaction decided to volunteer on the borders?
4. Are you denying in a historic show of force, tens of millions of illegals were so embolden by Bush, they marched on our cities making demands and threats while waving foregoing flags in our faces?
Apology accepted. No harm done.
It seems like a barrage of things, non-stop, for 3 1/2 years. Sometimes it feels like we can barely catch our breath from one assault before another one is right in our faces.
I will fight on, until my last breath, but I am seriously angry and frustrated and frightened. It is like watching our homes burn down and the firemen just standing there. That is what I meant by my question. Why doesn’t Congress do something??
Thank you, I appreciate it
Dallas Texas, 2006
500,000 illegals, emboldened by Bush, march on Dallas, making demands and threats, while pushing forign flags in our faces
_______________________________________________________
1. Are you denying Bush attempted to shove amnesty down the American tax payers throats?
2. Are you denying under Bush, during war time, stood by and even aided and abetted tens of million entering this country illegally, while he told us to be compassionate?
3. Are you denying under Bush, Americans tired of protesting, begging, screaming, voting and petitioning for relief from this epic violent invasion were called "vigilantes" when some had a belly full of Bush open border policies and inaction decided to volunteer on the borders?
4. Are you denying in a historic show of force, tens of millions of illegals were so embolden by Bush, they marched on our cities making demands and threats while waving foregoing flags in our faces?
Soooooo—Will such ‘children’ have to bring ID to prove they were born here or brought here at a very young age?
How will they PROVE they are who they say they are???
ACTUAL ID!!!!????
GEEEEZZ—don’t need ID to vote, but need ID to get let to stay in the country with Obama Executive Order Amnesty!!!!
Does that rule about CONTINUALLY being IN this country get messed up when they go to Mexico to visit relatives???
So, if I am an employer who might have a job opening & I am supposed to do the VERIFY system to check legality of an applicant-—how does this throw a wrench into the gears???
Social Security runs the VERIFY system, IIRC, and they would be unable to verify someone who isn’t in their system!!! That would include the new millions of Obama’s Executive Order amnesty!
Guess IF I were looking for a new employee, I would hold off until I was sure I had an administration that took things seriously. I would be caught in a Catch 22. I don’t need the drama or the grief.
amen...Amen...AMEN!!!
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