On Nov. 20, President Obama announced an executive action on immigration to provide temporary protection (“deferred action”) from deportation and permission to work for some parents of United States citizens and legal permanent residents. The order also expands the existing “DACA” program benefiting the so-called DREAMers — high achieving young people brought to the United States as children. These two programs could affect up to 5 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States. The outcry from Republicans over Obama’s plans has been deafening. Congressional Republicans responded by holding a hearing to rail against the program. They’ve threatened a range...