Obama eases immigration enforcement

Saturday, June 16, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama eased enforcement of immigration laws Friday, offering a chance for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to stay in the country and work. Immediately embraced by Hispanics, the extraordinary step touched off an election-year confrontation with congressional Republicans.

“Let’s be clear, this is not amnesty, this is not immunity, this is not a path to citizenship, this is not a permanent fix,” Obama said from the White House Rose Garden. “This is the right thing to do.”

The policy change will affect as many as 800,000 immigrants who have lived in fear of deportation. It bypasses Congress and partially achieves the goals of the “DREAM Act,” congressional legislation that would establish a path toward citizenship for young people who came to the United States illegally but who attend college or join the military.

Under the administration plan, illegal immigrants will be immune from deportation if they were brought to the United States before they turned 16 and are younger than 30, have been in the country for at least five continuous years, have no criminal history, graduated from a U.S. high school or earned a GED or served in the military. They also can apply for a work permit that will be good for two years with no limits on how many times it can be renewed.

Obama said the change would become effective immediately to “lift the shadow of deportation from these young people.”

The move comes in an election year in which the Hispanic vote could be critical in swing states like Colorado, Nevada and Florida. While Obama enjoys support from a majority of Hispanic voters, Latino enthusiasm for the president has been tempered by the slow economic recovery, his inability to win congressional support for a broad overhaul of immigration laws and by his administration’s aggressive deportation policy.

The step, to be carried out by the Department of Homeland Security, comes one week before Obama plans to address the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials’ annual conference in Orlando, Fla. Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney is to speak to the group on Thursday.

“Many of these young people have already contributed to our country in significant ways,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wrote in a memorandum describing the administration’s action. “Prosecutorial discretion, which is used in so many other areas, is especially justified here.”

The policy closely tracks a proposal being drafted by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a potential vice presidential running mate for Romney, as an alternative to the DREAM Act, formally the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act.

While many Republican lawmakers decried the Obama administration’s move, Rubio offered a tempered response.

“Today’s announcement will be welcome news for many of these kids desperate for an answer, but it is a short-term answer to a long-term problem,” Rubio said in a statement. “And by once again ignoring the Constitution and going around Congress, this short-term policy will make it harder to find a balanced and responsible long-term one.”

The change drew a swift repudiation from Republican lawmakers, who accused Obama of circumventing Congress in an effort to boost his political standing and of favoring illegal immigrants over unemployed U.S. citizens.

“President Obama and his administration once again have put partisan politics and illegal immigrants ahead of the rule of law and the American people,” Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, GOP chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.

Republicans including Romney say they want tighter border security measures before they will consider changes in immigration law. Romney opposes offering legal status to illegal immigrants who attend college but has said he would do so for those who serve in the armed forces.

Praise for the new policy was also swift. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, called the decision “an historic humanitarian moment” and compared it to the decision two decades ago to give political asylum to Cuban refugees fleeing the communist island. “This is at least a reflection of that moment in history.”

Midway through his remarks, Obama was interrupted by a reporter from a conservative online publication, Neil Munro of the Daily Caller, who shouted, “Why do you favor foreigners over American workers?” Clearly irritated, Obama said that he was explaining the policy, not looking for an argument, and that the change was the “right thing to do for the American people.”

Napolitano said Friday the decision “is well within the framework of our existing laws.”

“We should not forget that we are a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants,” she said. “With respect to these young people, deferred action, the decision I announced today, is simply the right thing to do.”

The Obama administration’s deportation policies have come under fire, and Latino leaders have raised the subject in private meetings with the president. In 2011, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported a record 396,906 people and is expected to deport about 400,000 this year.

A December poll by the Pew Hispanic Center showed that 59 percent of Latinos disapproved of the president’s handling of deportations.

The administration announcement comes ahead of an expected Supreme Court decision on Arizona’s tough 2010 immigration law that, among other things, requires police to ask for immigration papers from anyone they stop or arrest and suspect is in the country illegally. The Obama administration has challenged the law.

More like this story

morus 11 months, 1 week ago

Under Obama, there have been VASTLY more deportations than under all other previous US presidents. It's high time he showed some compassion to the innocent young people. Private corporations are making a fortune housing deportees in huge prison camps, where they are often abused and even raped. What a delusional tea party type should REALLY worry about is the fact that the private prison industry has helped the US reach incarceration rates 4x that of the ENTIRE rest of the world COMBINED. Now that we've got people making huge money selling prison spaces, there is an INCENTIVE to lock people up, new lobbyists getting new politicians and judges into power that can fill up their new facilities and fill up their pockets. With all the tea bagger fear of prison camps (FEMA), you'd think this would really freak them out. Instead they pick on the poor, those who are different in life, and immigrants trying to eke out a living shovelling up feces or picking fruit. Very Christian, these hard-core Christians are...

John 11 months, 1 week ago

Where are some of these "private corporation" owned "prison camps" and what "fortune" making corporations own them? The news on abuse and rapes at these "prison camps" have escaped my news programs and papter. Please advise as to links or, better yet, specific newspaper articles where I, and others, can read of them.

John 11 months, 1 week ago

I wrote, "Please advise as to links or, BETTER YET, specific NEWSPAPER articles . . . " I really did not expect a list of websites owned or supported by the left. Please, legitimate, MOR news agencies or, at the very least, a MIX of left and right. Anything like you wrote of will be news on BOTH sides. . . . if they are real, that is.

tonto_goldberg 11 months, 1 week ago

John asked a question. morus answered. Simple.

sickandtired 11 months, 1 week ago

Morus why would illegal immigrants be incarerated? Could it have something to do with the fact the broke the laws. Surely not. It wust be ok to steal my neighbors big screen because according to Obama if you need something better than it makes it ok to break the law.

sickandtired 11 months, 1 week ago

I'm glad the border is arbitrary to you. since you cannot argue the point you stoop to mud slinging. Is the border going to still be arbitrary when the next 9/11 happens or are you gonna scream why wasn't something done.Is the border going to be arbitrary when you cannot find a job for any kind of wage because big business(which you are now supporting) is employing the illegals for half what you would ask for? But hey at least you will still have Obama increasing the debt even more. I can't wait to become like Greece.

Gabrielle 11 months, 1 week ago

morus - do provide the history lesson to support the criminal act. Because someone says so, doesn't make it so - even if spoken by a perceived American hero. Do tell.

sickandtired 11 months, 1 week ago

but you said it was illegal. please provide what laws were broken. this quote is personnel feeling not law.

sickandtired 11 months, 1 week ago

Morus are you wanting to present historical fact or historical opinion. Fact is something that can be presented with documented proof like you stating we broke the law. what law was broken? Opinion is somebodies thoughts like what Grant thought about what happened. As for moral truth-well seeing the comments and attacks on the individual-you need to address your moral truth before trying to teach people about moral truth. you call people extreme right wing- well you either are right or left. We know by your comments how far left you stand. THe law is there to help unless it goes against me- then just break it.Now go away little man and come back when you can actually bring forth a good arguement and not just mud slinging.

John 11 months, 1 week ago

As I have posted in other places. MORUS and his cohorts post straw men in order to avoid dealing with reality. Using his latest silly logic, We all must give back everything. We won land by a war (illegal? I don't think so), but we must give it back. . . They (MORUS and his buds) will agree to that only so far as it does not inconvenience them. LOL

ROFL

LOL

Straw men, straw men, straw men.

wow 11 months, 1 week ago

Way to go Mr. Priesident...you made a hard and neccessary decision that other's have avoided or did not make. You also "FINALLLY" stood up and demaded then respect for the position you hold...and brotha...excuse me.. Mr. President that just makes my day. You Mr, Obama are the President of the United States..lead own. You have not done everyrthing right, but you have not done everything wrong either. In my vierw you deserve another four years.........and then Hillary can make it happen after that...that is of coiurse unless Colin Powell decides to get involved.

Mr. Obama/President....you made a lot of people happier by dealing with this immgration issue, but probably more so for finally standing up to these Ding Dongs' who've been dissin you since you got elected. Keep it up.....be the President and keep makiing good thing's happen.

spelchek 11 months, 1 week ago

"be the President and keep makiing good thing's happen." - 8.2% unemployment ain't so good.

wow 11 months, 1 week ago

As long so many AMERICANS keep refering to the "illegal immigration" problems as being caused by HISPANICS or people from South of the Boarder...then President Obama is right on point. Not only does his policy allow the people from that region an opportunity to enjoy freedom. it also aloows those illegal Europeans that nonbody seems to consider as being here illegally the same. get over it...it's time to move on.

As for you Americans who feel that "YOUR" country is being invaded...let's not forget how this natiion evolved. Obama for another term and then Hillary or Powell to pick up the slack. After that America better hope Huntsmen is still around or we're in deep POOH!

JCLifer 11 months, 1 week ago

Illegal INVADERS is exactly what they are.

connor 11 months, 1 week ago

About 250 AD when the tribes crossed the Rhine by invitation and settled in Gaul, Germany, and Northern Italy. The Roman politicians and Lattifundia owners liked having the cheap labor until the successive waves sacked Rome itself.

It happened again around 500 AD when a few petty kings in England invited some Saxons over. Some stayed and then more came and more and then they had Saxon England.

John 11 months, 1 week ago

Another straw man. JCLifer did not write anything about an army. He said they were "Illegal INVADERS." When I last checked, regardless what POTUS says, writes, or signs. HE cannot make them legal, he can only postpone our government from carrying out the LAW OF THE LAND. What do we call someone who does that? They are certainly not good names.

John 11 months, 1 week ago

I amend my last post. Actually, he (POTUS) CAN make them legal. How? He can do that by signing a presidential pardon for each of them but, then again, that would require admitting that they ARE ILLEGAL to begin with.

spelchek 11 months, 1 week ago

Today.

online_editor 11 months, 1 week ago

I removed some comments that contained personal insults directed toward other participants and related responses. Please remember to stay focused on the issues involved. Thanks. --Rick Brown, online editor, News Tribune

JCNYer 11 months, 1 week ago

Nobody seems to be hitting the more important point. Obama wants these illegals to stay if they have jobs? What about the Americans whom are unemployed? They must not matter because it's not PC to worry about the American people. Work on America first, then deal with the illegal problem.

RobHunterJohnson 11 months, 1 week ago

Mexican work crews put piers in a relatives house, roofs on, placed sod for our utility with power on, stacked stone for a landscaper, and put the new garbage cans out when we got our new recycle program. I do not know if they were illegal, if they were in this country legal then fine, but I have my doubts. I feel that the contractors are taking advantage of the illegals. One guy speaks English and the rest speak Spanish??????? Rob

JCNYer 11 months, 1 week ago

I lived in New Mexico for 5 years. A lot of legal Mexicans will not learn English because their attitude is why bother? Everything from social services to the DMV to McDonalds menus are in English and Spanish. And that is my feeling too, if they are legal, okay. If they're not, they go back.

muleman 11 months, 1 week ago

These are all over 18 and under 30. I am not sure how illegals serve in our millitary without a social security card. I forsee the POTUS handing out voting rights to this group in the near future

spelchek 11 months, 1 week ago

You nailed it, and if the SCOTUS doesn't rule Obamacare unconstitutional; guess who's getting health care too.

JCNYer 11 months, 1 week ago

Well that's how the US has been in the last 30 to 40 years. Take care of other countries, and our illegal guests while let the Americans suffer for it. Otherwise we are labeled as "inhumane". To be honest, who cares what other countries think about us, most of them hate us anyway, so it's time to get tough, kick the illegals out, and put a large fence and troops on our southern border. Why would the Mexicans want to come here anyway? There gas is one dollar a gallon cheaper there than here in most places, 2 to 3 bucks in other states because the Mexican government puts a cap on the gas prices to help the economy in Mexico. That seems to be too easy a solution for this country. The way our government works under Obama is come up with different plans, find out which plan is the most unpopular with the voting public, then use that one.

spelchek 11 months, 1 week ago

An act of a desperate man. Where was this when you owned the house, senate, and POTUS? Obama could have easily made it law 3 years ago. 8.2% of unemployed documented Americans will now have to compete with Obama's kids for jobs. Keep up the good work.

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