Obama spurns Republicans with immigration orders

Republicans should ask, what would Reagan do? (In fact, they can dispense with the conditional: they should just look at what he did, which is very similar to what Obama has just done.)

Gee, last president to do this sort of thing was GOP saint Reagan. What's changed for the GOP?

Was Reagan... wrong?

Like the ACA, written by the Heritage Foundation, first enacted by their last nominee for president, when taken up by a democrat: Socialism.

This will make the Muriel Boat lift back in the late 70's by Cuba look like a small blip. For those who don't know, that was when Castro opened up his prison gates and let all the bad seeds make it to the ocean to be picked up by the Coast Guard and found amnesty.

Who will these countries send? Certainly not the best and brightest of the country. They will send the poorest and sickest to America in hopes that they can get social services that they can't get in their homelands. Yes Reagan granted amnesty back in the 80's. But guess what, at least he was honest when he did it, and not trying to hide behind some "smoke and mirrors" like this plan is going to be where in the future we will find out that these people will be given full amnesty to get the benefits that he says that they will not get.

And for the record, in regards to not being able to get healthcare according to Obama, in CA where there is a large illegal population, the illegals can get Medi-Cal, which is health insurance that is paid by the state of CA. But, that program is supported by money from the Federal Gov. So, yes they will not be able to get Federal health care, but they can apply in states like CA and the Feds will pick up the costs of that program.

Just another in a long line of "smoke and mirrors."

Who will these countries send?

Alphaape, Obama announced a deferral of deportation for parents of those who are in the country lawfully, with perhaps some 4 million of 12 million undocumented residents eligible to apply. Note that not even parents of Dreamers - those who are in the United States under the deferred action for childhood arrivals, or DACA, program - are not eligible because they remain in the country based on discretion, not on the basis of a legal entitlement.

So unless these scary countries you fret about are able to send their poorest and sickest back in time and with American citizenship or legal residency, they're in a tougher place now then they were yesterday.

"Every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has deferred some deportations. President Reagan deferred deportations for about 100,000 families of foreign nationals in 1987 under his reading of the congressionally authorized 1986 amnesty law, and President George H.W. Bush did so in 1990 for about 350,000 foreign nationals under his reading of the same law. Each of these was based on a principled public presidential reading of the words and purposes of a federal statute. Obama does not purport to read and interpret the current immigration law; rather, he effectively rewrites it." -Judge Andrew Napolitano - "Playing With Constitutional Fire"

Please compare the raw numbers(100K,350K vs 5,000,000) AND those actions were based on preexisting law, not legislating from the Oval Office.

... under (Reagan's) reading of the congressionally authorized 1986 amnesty law, and President George H.W. Bush did so in 1990....

Interesting point there, John Galt - that Congress had already acted, and, in fact, had specifically legislated that the amnesty program was limited to immigrants had to have been in the US since 1982. Both Reagan and Bush, therefore, acted against recently expressed Congressional legislation. Now, if the Republican Congress passed legislation stipulating, for example, that no criterion other than simply being in the US illegally be used in determining deportation priorities and Obama ignored this, I would say you might have a case - but Congress has recently been silent on immigration.

Regarding your numbers, Congressional action in 1986 legalized some 3,000,000, meaning that Bush was left with a relatively small number of undocumented immigrants; still, Bush's executive action protected about 40 percent of America's unauthorized immigrants at the time, which is roughly comparable to Obama's plan.

(Also, remember that only 30,000 immigrants were deported in 1990 - less than one percent of the unauthorized population, compared with an annual average under Obama of 400,000 - about 3.6 percent of total illegal immigrants.)

It seems many here didn't even bother to read the details. Laguna pointed them out. Obama didn't just suddenly let all illegals stay in the country, he let parents of those who are in the country legally stay. And not even forever, they are only getting a permit to stay and work for three years.

From the way some of you are talking, it sounds like you think he just said 'let in anyone and everyone with no checks whatsoever. And if you are thinking that way, it shows that you don't care about the details, you are just opposing it because Obama proposed it and for no other reason. Just like the Republicans have been doing for the past six years.

Alphaape

Who will these countries send? Certainly not the best and brightest of the country. They will send the poorest and sickest to America in hopes that they can get social services that they can't get in their homelands.

One of the prerequisites is that the person must have entered the US before 1 Jan 2014. So what is your concern?

Besides, Cuba is an interesting example. Illegal immigration from Cuba has always been unrestricted if not directly encouraged for decades. That's why any Cuban who lands in Florida gets to stay, and Haitian who does the same gets shipped home.

Obama didn't just suddenly let all illegals stay in the country, he let parents of those who are in the country legally stay.

So these parents who were illegal and now get to stay and have status, what jobs will they be competing for? If it is 5 million people, that's more than the jobs that were produced the last quater. So where will they work now that they are legal?

US democracy at work. I despair.

It seems many here didn't even bother to read the details. Laguna pointed them out. Obama didn't just suddenly let all illegals stay in the country, he let parents of those who are in the country legally stay. And not even forever, they are only getting a permit to stay and work for three years.

So it's ok for Obama to change the laws on his own, bypass congress and give amnesty to people, the majority of them by breaking the law, illegally and jump to the front of the line to people who have done nothing but follow all the rules and have been waiting for many years justifiably and these people can get screwed??!

From the way some of you are talking, it sounds like you think he just said 'let in anyone and everyone with no checks whatsoever.

Actually, he did.

And if you are thinking that way, it shows that you don't care about the details, you are just opposing it because Obama proposed it and for no other reason. Just like the Republicans have been doing for the past six years.

All of a sudden, this president has a change of heart and cares about the illegals and their status and he just had a change of heart. the Republicans wanted the border sealed, Obama did nothing, they would have gladly worked with him on immigration reform, provided he just seal off the border completely, that never happened and now he just wants to give a pass to the illegal aliens and act as his so already bestowed title as the anointed Sainted one.

"Both Reagan and Bush, therefore, acted against recently expressed Congressional legislation."

No, what they did was address issues that the existing legislation had created, resolving loopholes. Again, that's a very far stretch from the travesty that Obama imposed.

The Reagan bill was quite clear; when the Senate Judiciary Committee sent it to the Senate, it contained this clause:

It is the intent of the Committee that the families of legalized aliens will obtain no special petitioning right by virtue of the legalization. They will be required to "wait in line" in the same manner as immediate family members of other new resident aliens.

http://www.leagle.com/decision/19881748700FSupp1048_11564

If Republicans want the parents of an American military service member - who, through such action, has gained permanent residency - to be deported with the same urgency as, say, some gang-banger who was picked up for tagging, they are welcome to stipulate so. However, the Dept. of Homeland Security is currently able to deport only some 400,000 people a year, so unless Congress vastly increases its resources, law-abiding parents will be deported, while criminals will languish in jail under care of the American taxpayer. If that is what the GOP wants, they are well within their rights to legislate it so.

So these parents who were illegal and now get to stay and have status, what jobs will they be competing for?

Same ones they are already doing. These are not new arrivals, but people who have been in the US for years and years.

give amnesty to people, the majority of them by breaking the law, illegally and jump to the front of the line to people who have done nothing but follow all the rules and have been waiting for many years justifiably and these people can get screwed??!

Obama gave none of those things. My guess is that you are just repeating things Republicans say in the bubble because misinformation is the key to Republican anger. After that they no doubt told you that it will destroy America, then finished by saying its your duty as a patriot to stop Obama and save the country. It's the usual 1-2-3 of the right wing propaganda machine.

I can see why Republicans would be angry about this, they tend to be the lowest skilled workers in the US so they would be prime candidates to have their jobs taken from them due to laziness and poor productivity. Incredibly ironic

Every immigrant in the US who acquired their residency status LEGALLY, requiring time, effort, and the money to negotiate the process should be INCENSED that by this action they have been slapped in the face and spat upon by the POTUS.

More disinformation above. The legal status and benefits between the legal and illegal aliens is far and wide.

As a U.S. voter, I support a path for illegal aliens to the nearest port of departure from the United States.

The chief concern is that the forces of reform are nowhere near as passionately committed as are those opposed . . . without firm, thoughtful action, the problems can only grow worse. Immigration reform is no fringe issue. U.S. immigration control has become a joke, with half a million or more people taking up residence illegally every year. Tensions over jobs and social services are building in those states most severely impacted.

"newly emboldened Republicans"

Or, even more pesky Republicans, lol.

Human faces on statistics help. GOPers would deport this man's family in a second, apparently.

http://archive.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20131120military-undocumented-relatives-policy.html

I basically want my 8000 dollars back in processing and lawyer fees that I had to pay for my Japanese wife to get her Greencard so she can stay in the USA LEGALLY with me. I mean, if I had known all she had to do was have a kid with me and sneak over here via a part of Mexico's border that wasn't fully protected, then I could've saved myself about six years of rent money!

The reality is this: If you reward people for breaking the immigration laws of the US, it signals to me a much, much bigger problem in regards to the handling of illegals in the first place. What I mean is that what Obama is doing right now is Equivalent to putting a band-aid on an axe wound. Just because the American government hasn't figured out how to handle the illegal immigration problem in our country doesn't mean you just say "Oh well, nothing we can do about it, let us let them stay." I don't care if it's the parents of illegal children or criminals like Scarface from Cuba, the result is still going to be the same: My wife and millions of others who went through the absolutely ridiculous process of immigration in the US basically get slapped in the face for actually FOLLOWING the laws this country provides. What needs to happen is Congress and the POTUS need to work TOGETHER to find a solution that ENDS or nearly distinguishes illegal immigrants from gaining a foothold in this country. They also need to make the immigration process in this country much less complicated and much less expensive, as that is a huge part of the problem right there. But now, thanks to this unbelievable abuse of power by Obama, illegal immigrants are going to be rewarded for their illegal actions with JOBS and a temporary permit to stay in the US, not have to pay back taxes to the IRS while they enjoy their illegal status doing illegal jobs that they also aren't paying taxes to perform, and I get to pick up the bill for it all, along with my LEGALLY IMMIGRATED wife who also pays taxes every year? This is a sad, sad day for America. SHAME ON YOU OBAMA!

Laguna, to say what Obama has done is analogous to Reagan and GHWB 's actions on immigration is disingenuous.

Yes, the Republicans are rightfully deeming to have been scorned as the actions of Obama do not upon a review of the context bear similarity. Obama's action stands starkly outside of legislative context.

http://joshblackman.com/blog/2014/11/20/comparing-president-george-h-w-bushs-deferral-of-1-5-million-with-president-obamas-deferral-of-5-million/

Not so easy to deport 11 million people. Good on Obama for making a move and taking the first step. Pity the GOP couldn't even come up with any ideas to get the ball moving. Seal off the border completely? Yeah, yeah, that's really easy. As with many of the issues Obama has faced and tried to improve, this one also started long before his tenure. Now sit back and watch the GOP write themselves off even more for 2016!!

I basically want my 8000 dollars back in processing and lawyer fees that I had to pay for my Japanese wife to get her Greencard so she can stay in the USA LEGALLY with me

A fair point.

As far as that goes: go through the Consulate, ie, from overseas and not in the US. It takes six months or so for the processing, and is free, except for some nominal fees. The only catch is the process must be complete before the spouse enters the US. See, that ways they know its all on the up-and-up.

@ djv124: I feel your pain, since I had to do it myself as you have. What I find really appalling is that the President chose to do this announcement, right before the Latin Music Awards which was shown on Univision (for those who don't know, a Spanish language TV station in the US and Central America), and not shown live by the big three major US networks. Pretty much an open invitation to those still in Central America to come to the USA. He stipulates that they must have been in the USA for 5 years. How are they going to prove that? There is a thriving market now for illegal documents so this will only fuel that niche industry further.

“Gracias, Presidente Obama.”

I also find it intersting that if they have been in the USA for so long, and really want to "come out of the shadows" don't you think that they would have had signs that were in English instead of Spanish?

This is how Obama should have implemented Obamacare, by slow incrementalism as I heard it called. Instead of forcing something down our throats at one time, first they came up with the "Dreamers" kids who were brought to the US by their parents and too young to object. Then they said you can't deport the parents of anchor babies since those kids like the dreamers would not be able to live in their parents countries. Now that the kids are safe, we get to add the parents,and before long we will get the "family values" spiel and how many Hispanic familes take care of extended family members and instead of having them in the USA wiring money back to Mexico and making people like Carlos Slim (the richest man in the world who owns the Mexican telecommunications industry and gets a huge slice of those wire transfers) why not bring those family members to the USA where they will not have to pay those high fees and we can show true compassion.

By that time that 5 million will blossom to another 20 million. As for those who say we can't deport that many people, we can't but we didn't bring that many in, they self imported to the USA. Cut off access to public benefits and stricter controls on who gets to work and they will self deport themselves.

As far as the sob story cases they trot out to show the plights of these dreamers, they need to equally do the stories on the 30% of prisoners in the jails in the USA that are illegals and the crimes they committed.

John GaltNOV. 21, 2014 - 05:39PM JST Every immigrant in the US who acquired their residency status LEGALLY, . . .

Are you bracketing this from the 17th or 18th Century?

People constantly argue that the system is broken, yet they never really point out EXACTLY what is broken. Is it broken because it breaks up families? Well, it doesn't really break up families. The person who actually broke the law did when he/she assumed the risk of breaking the law in the first place. I'm no legal scholar, but I'm quite certain that there isn't a law stating that the offenders being returned to their home countries can't take their families home with them. If the argument is "it's cruel to send the kids back to where their parents are from, because the United States is the only home they've ever known", then again that fault lies with the offenders and not the law. When their parents broke our immigration laws to by whatever means they did to do it, wasn't their home country the only home they ever knew? Who better to help their kids/families assimilate after being deported back to their country of origin than them? Of course a system is going to appear broken when you only want to enforce the laws "ala carte". Try doing more to severely punish the employers enticing the "cheap labor" to break the laws and see how much those opportunities dry up. Try enforcing every law in the books instead of playing politics with the system and people's lives.

What the President is doing makes sense in the real world -- Kick the criminals out, let the undocumented parents of American citizens stay to help raise their kids. Who the heck is going to the raise their kids? The State? Extended families? Kids need their parents. In Nevada, approx 1 out of 5 kids have at least one parent who is undocumented. Are you really ready to forcibly break up and deport 20% of families in Nevada? Let the undocumented immigrants come out of the shadows and pay a fine for breaking the law, pay back taxes, and get back of the line for a green card.

@djv124 @Alphaape Comparing your spouses' case to these undocumented parents is like comparing apples and oranges -- 1)Your spouse got green cards, theses undocumented parents are getting three year visas. 2)The only real fees that your spouses were required to pay were application processing fees. While these parents are required to pay a FINE, back taxes, and application processing fees. 4) Moreover, there are"no lines" for spouses of US citizens to get green cards. The Fed start the green card process as soon as they get the application. These parents are required to get in back of the line , which could literately take a decade to get a green card.

It's good but Obama acted like dictatorship. He should have negotiated with congress. US President always lecture other countries about democracy but sometime American President has practice undemocratically. Honestly I think Obama is arrogant and incompetent in some case.

toguroNov. 22, 2014 - 02:41AM JST Try enforcing every law in the books instead of playing politics with the system and people's lives.

What will happen if 90 percent of illegal farm workers are expelled from the U.S., not just more expensive produce, but the collapse of American labor intensive agriculture. Every farm job supports three to four others up and downstream in the local economy, from the people who make and sell fertilizer and farm machinery to those who work in trucking, food processing, grocery stores and restaurants. Do we really want to lose those jobs too? No one in America is going to benefit from expelling immigrant farm workers. And the cost won't be pennies, it will run to billions of dollars.

Honestly I think Obama is arrogant and incompetent in some case.

Yes, yes, yes. Obama is arrogant. He just doesn't know his place. One might even say he is uppity...

Obama just created a constitutional crisis of Tsunami proportion regarding the check and balance of power, and he divided the country more than ever. Reagan and Bush modified the bill authorized by congress that eventually they voted upon on immigration issue, and was not at this magnitude. Today 5 millions, tomorrow 10 millions, and nothing to slow down this mass illegal migration. Obama did not fix the broken system, but wreck it for future Hispanic votes to Dems. He slammed the door for the coming Congress as Harry Reid no longer firewall his back against the wall. He should given a chance for new Congress to work the issue as a man. He contradicted himself by using emotional words to cover his flip flopping. It is a pure political reason without shame, at best assuming the stupidity of American the same way as passing ACA. A convenient narcissist Obama rewrite the law from executive branch without enforcing the existing law that he supposes to execute. This is an example of lawlessness since he contradicts himself from local to foreign affairs. His words becoming irrelevant except his blind sight horses that he can whips at will with his deceptive image.

@dcog

I can see why Republicans would be angry about this, they tend to be the lowest skilled workers in the US so they would be prime candidates to have their jobs taken from them due to laziness and poor productivity. Incredibly ironic.

Hmmm, tell that to the Koch brothers. So what about most Blacks and Mexicans? They vote Democrat and the majority of them voted for Obama twice. Blacks about 93% many of them poor, live in low income areas, highest incarceration rate, followed by Hispanics, low productivity, highest school drop out rate. I won't say lazy, but I will say its environmental and social, these people complain, and yet they vote these politicians in again and and again.

@djv124

Totally spot on. I completely agree!

Obama gave none of those things. My guess is that you are just repeating things Republicans say in the bubble because misinformation is the key to Republican anger. After that they no doubt told you that it will destroy America, then finished by saying its your duty as a patriot to stop Obama and save the country. It's the usual 1-2-3 of the right wing propaganda machine.

What the....are you talking about??! I live in California, this ruling has a devastating effect on the economy to other minorities and will definitely entice more illegals to come in to an already open border country, if Obama wanted to really do something good and noble, why NOT close the border first? A complete and total shut down, then deal with the problem. This guy is a joke! Screw people that are being slaughtered and murdered in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, but in Mexico and latin America, we HAVE to intervene? There is NO reason or justification or urgency to do this right now, this is jut poor bitter revenge politics on his part.

Not so easy to deport 11 million people.

No one was talking about that. There were other ways to tackle this problem, there was NO need to bypass congress and break the law.

Good on Obama for making a move and taking the first step.

And bad for Blacks and Mexicans socially and these are the people that supported the president twice and these are the groups that will suffer the most economically from this.

Pity the GOP couldn't even come up with any ideas to get the ball moving.

They did, Harry Reid has about 308 legislative form/immigration bill sitting on his desk collecting dust mites that he hasn't signed, let along look at them. The GOP proposed various plans for sealing the border and dealing with the immigration problem and none of it was even brought up on the floor.

Seal off the border completely? Yeah, yeah, that's really easy. As with many of the issues Obama has faced and tried to improve, this one also started long before his tenure.

Obama could have done something great and have done better on this issue than his predecessors, but Obama didn't do that, he went unilaterally out of pure anger towards the people and the Republicans and just before the GOP take the Senate in Jan. he decides to rewrite congress and the sainted anointed King in chief just in a sissy fit and haste does this move, it doesn't make sense, there was NO reason for it, none.

Now sit back and watch the GOP write themselves off even more for 2016!!

That won't happen, the president and his actions will throw an anchor in the boot of the Dems that by 2016 even mentioning the word Democratic will be a curse word.

@JTdan

Yes, yes, yes. Obama is arrogant. He just doesn't know his place. One might even say he is uppity...

Actually worse!

The USA must still be a great place to live if all these people are trying to get in.

The Senate passed an immigration bill last year, with bipartisan support. Boehner refused to allow a vote on it in the House, knowing full well that it would have passed with bipartisan support. Unfortunately for the state of the union, the majority of Boehner's caucus did not support the bill (on principle alone), and Boehner was more interested in keeping his wing nuts happy in their reactionism and fear mongering than in getting something accomplished. It was a slap in the face to the will of the people as represented by the bill's supporters, both Democrat and Republican.

The unwillingness to compromise has become the GOPs main tactic, as reflected by Boehner's raucous caucus in the House as well as the growing prominence of obstructionists like Ted Cruz in the Senate.

Cruz on Fox News (2013): "I don’t think what Washington needs is more compromise." Clear enough.

Obama is not doing anything unconstitutional or illegal. Sure, it would have been better if a vote on last year's immigration bill had been allowed (it would have passed), or if the House had presented its own bill, or if the House had even offered some sort of debate on the issue. But they didn't do any of those things because they knew that accomplishing anything would be a boon to Obama. The GOPs main goal seems to be making government dysfunctional in order to gain power.

Unconscionable, cynical, self-serving.

As Obama has said, let the GOP put forward a bill.

But it won't. It will focus on saying no, shutting down government, suing, or impeaching. Real American heroes these people are.

plasticmonkey:

" Obama is not doing anything unconstitutional or illegal. "

But least year, he said exactly that. So, you are arguing against Obama ver. 2013.

What changed? Ah, an election, during which he had shut up about the plan. Now, with nothing to lose, he can act as the king, which as late as lear he said would be unconstitutional.

@djv124 @Alphaape Comparing your spouses' case to these undocumented parents is like comparing apples and oranges

@ Sam Trumbull: You should read toguru's post very carefully. We both followed the curent immigration laws and had ot wait to get what we wanted. Now this rule is going to let those who didn't follow the rules get what they want. As with illegal immigrants, I had a family member who was not going to be a citizen, so I did what I was supposed to do to bring her in. Just becuase people came to the US illegally in the first place, took advantage of the 14th Amendment and had a kid as an anchor baby and now are demanding that they have rights is not how a country functions. Does our laws need to be changed, yes I would agree and I would start off with changing the 14th Amendment. That was mainly used so that the former slaves and their children would be granted citizenship.

As with myself and illegals there is no difference in comparison. THe US laws are on the books, myself, djv124 and many others chose to do the right thing, and follow them no matter how complicated and expensive. These folks didn't, and it is not my problem that as a result of their flagrant violation of the current laws, they are in the situations that they are in now. Should have thought of that before they broke the law.

@Sam Trumbull: I think you are grossly mistaken when you say the comparison I made between my wife's immigration process and what the illegal parents are now getting is two different things. It's not, and here's why: The undocumented individuals shouldn't get ANYTHING. Why are we rewarding them with even a VISA? That's one step away from a Greencard, basically, as that gives them time to get a Greencard. I don't think they should be given that chance until they've paid for their CRIME, which according to the US laws last I checked, it was still illegal to cross the border without a proper status assignment. So I did it the right way, as did Alphaape, and we along with many other LAW ABIDING citizens basically are being told that the laws we followed don't matter anymore. If you can make it to the US by crossing the Mexican border undetected, have yourself an anchor baby, then CONGRATS: We'll give you a three year visa! HUH? Meanwhile, I paid 8,000 dollars, had to wait YEARS for my wife's status to be approved (another point you're wrong on, as everybody who applies for a Greencard has to wait. There IS A LINE and it's a rather long one, contrary to what you might think. My wife stood in that line for three long years to be exact). And let us be real honest here... illegal immigrants are going to pay back taxes? LOL. That's absurd... they will skirt around that for three years until they can re-apply for their next three year visa using another fake social security number and a fake name too. I will Agree with Obama on one thing, and that is the GOP needs to pass a bill and do something about our illegal immigration problem, but to me, it's really, really simple: If you are in the US ILLEGALLY, you need to be deported immediately. CASE CLOSED. It's not me being conservative or far right. There has never been a more clearer case of a law being broken and what that consequence should be. To put it another way, if I go out and murder somebody, where is the wiggle room on what happens to me there? I get put in jail and possibly killed for my actions. I don't get to go free simply because I can spend enough years avoiding getting caught or because I have a kid. If I get caught, my kid doesn't get to see me because I will have to spend possibly the rest of my life in jail and why? Say it with me: BECAUSE I BROKE THE LAW. So if you are going to reward people who break the law with amnesty for their crimes, why stop there with immigration? This is what scares me the most... this can set a dangerous precedent for allowing other crimes in the US to be "forgiven," depending on what demographic is committing the crimes and I guess how soon the next election is, which clearly this is what the immigration law is all about after all is said and done (No wonder Hillary Clinton approves of Obama's actions). One final point... think of ALL THE JOBS that will be created when all the immigrant farm workers are deported! Somebody in the comments mentioned that America would cave if that happened. Uh, NO. America will suddenly have a lot of LEGAL residents able to get jobs. We kill two birds with one stone by doing this! Conclusion to all of this ranting? I WANT MY MONEY BACK FOR THE GREENCARD PROCESS MR. OBAMA AND CONGRESS!

@djv

The more a person spends time looking around jealously at others who might have have got an easy deal or a free pass, the less they are able to appreciate their own good fortune.

Just be glad you're not living in Syria....

Apparently the last five Republicans have made executive orders regarding immigration reform. But when the black guy does it, it's the end of democracy and the end of America.

No racism there.

@Lucabrasi: LOL, I am HARDLY jealous of illegal immigrants. It has nothing to do with that at all, not even in the least. I simply am making a point that I have legally went through the process of immigrating my Japanese wife to the USA and now it seems like that was stupid of me, being all I had to do was have her enter Mexico, cross the US border, and hang out for a little bit and have a kid with me without getting noticed by the US immigration police, and she would've got herself a nice FREE Visa to stay in America and even given permission to work. I am pointing out the injustice here that Obama AND Congress are allowing to occur with allowing illegal immigrants to thrive and exist in the US. I am ALL FOR immigrants coming to America, whether they are Hispanic, Muslim, Asian, or whatever, just as long as they do it LEGALLY. The only thing I'm jealous about, perhaps, is of Obama's amazing executive powers, because if I had them, illegal immigration would be a non-issue. I would deport them ALL, regardless of their families and circumstances, and at the same time, FIX the immigration system by making the process simpler, faster, and without all the red tape that practically all but encourages people who want to immigrate to this country to do it illegally.

The more a person spends time looking around jealously at others who might have have got an easy deal or a free pass, the less they are able to appreciate their own good fortune.

@ lucabrasi: If that's the case, then why the whole "Occupy" movement? Afterall, those who have risen to the top money earners may have had an easy pass according to the Occupy movement and they didn't do it "farily." I love the way liberal thinkers like to tout that line and then be against it when it suits their needs.

As far as paying the back taxes and the steps that they need to take to get their status updated, do a quick research on the return rates of the people from just this summer for the mass of children who poured into the US and their rates of actually going to their hearings. It is less than 10% (and I'm being optomistic with that number). What makes people think that now that it is safe they can come forth, and pay taxes on their past incomes, if according to the stories we keep hearing they are just "getting by" on meager wages. How will they pay back taxes then?

You will find out what a few places have seen when the government takes steps for these people to come forth that they all don't work. They expected a huge number of illegals in a few states to get the Driver's licenses when they made them available for them but not many showed up. Why, because they will tend to not want to be easily identified with a form of ID that the government can easily track. Also, as with a license,comes the responsibility to get the proper insurance, etc, etc that the rest of us legal drivers have to get, and if they don't get it, and have an accident, they will lose their vehicles. But I am sure that some loop hole will be found to let them off the hook, while the rest of the law abiding public has to take up the slack.

@plastic

The Senate passed an immigration bill last year, with bipartisan support. Boehner refused to allow a vote on it in the House, knowing full well that it would have passed with bipartisan support. Unfortunately for the state of the union, the majority of Boehner's caucus did not support the bill (on principle alone), and Boehner was more interested in keeping his wing nuts happy in their reactionism and fear mongering than in getting something accomplished.

Actually, to put it more bluntly and directly, the GOP wanted in return that Obama and the Dems shut down the border....completely! They do that, they were willing to make some concessions with the Democrats. However, they never did that, nor attempted to try, so why on Earth would they trust anything this Emperor proposes? He lied so many times on literally every issue, the Repubs are NOTE going to fall for this guy's shenanigans anymore, that's the reason why they didn't vote on it. Obama has the worst track record of ANY president when it comes to the truth.

It was a slap in the face to the will of the people as represented by the bill's supporters, both Democrat and Republican.

No, it was a calculated cautionary move and they were proven right....once again!

The unwillingness to compromise has become the GOPs main tactic, as reflected by Boehner's raucous caucus in the House as well as the growing prominence of obstructionists like Ted Cruz in the Senate.

The unwillingness of Reid ignoring ANY GOP legislative bill (over 308 including proposals on immigration) has become the main focus of why the DEMS won't have a job (thank God) come next year.

Cruz on Fox News (2013): "I don’t think what Washington needs is more compromise." Clear enough.

With this hard nosed, partisan president, definitely not! Obviously, he is not listening to his voters, ENOUGH with your failed policies.

Obama is not doing anything unconstitutional or illegal.

Yes, he is. Also tell that to millions of foreigners who followed the law and did everything right, followed every procedure to obtain legal naturalized citizenship, people who spent thousands of dollars and got shoved aside by a Tyrant that is having a sissy fit and is still pissed off at the beat down election a few weeks ago to grant people who broke the law citizenship, green cards, entitlements and other free stuff and the law abiding citizens just have to get shafted. The man has completely lost it. 789 days to go until the madness ends.

Sure, it would have been better if a vote on last year's immigration bill had been allowed (it would have passed), or if the House had presented its own bill, or if the House had even offered some sort of debate on the issue.

They did, ask Reid why the 308 bills are collecting dust?

But they didn't do any of those things because they knew that accomplishing anything would be a boon to Obama. The GOPs main goal seems to be making government dysfunctional in order to gain power.

No, it was solely based on distrust for this president, pure and simple. They've been had before, but not this time. Besides, the GOP already has power, that's why they won.

Unconscionable, cynical, self-serving.

And that's why the Dems are out of a job in a few months.

As Obama has said, let the GOP put forward a bill. But it won't. It will focus on saying no, shutting down government, suing, or impeaching. Real American heroes these people are.

http://youtu.be/4puS-yjwsiE http://youtu.be/wthV7kDcGHc

This should put to rest once and for all who Obama really is, a liar and a fraud.

@stranger

Apparently the last five Republicans have made executive orders regarding immigration reform. But when the black guy does it, it's the end of democracy and the end of America.

Obama is rewriting the constitution and taking matters into his own hands like the dictator I always knew him to truly be. Then for what and why do we have congress if the sainted anointed Emperor doesn't use it??

No racism there. Exactly, none!

Republicans should ask, what would Reagan do?

Reagan would work with the opposing party to pass a bipartisan plan in an attempt to solve the intractable problem caused by the existence of 3 million illegal immigrants once and for all.

What would Obama do?

Obama would unilaterally go around the democratic process and by executive decree repeat the mistakes of the past and expect the American people to believe that their will be a different result.

@wolfpack

The problem is, Obama doesn't learn and he keeps making the same mistakes over and over again, he cares about one thing and that's the next election and keeping the Democrats relevant, but the fact of the matter is, the Dems had 6 years and the 2 complete control of all 3 branches and the only thing they achieved was more debt, a more insecure border, low unemployment (Not enough high paying jobs) and a complete disregard for the constitution. Obama is not making this any easier for Hilary as well. Even during the midterm in AK and KS, the Clinton's campaigning didn't help either of their Democrats to retain control of those states, which means the Clinton machine won't sway voters and Obama is only further taking his party down.

bass

the GOP wanted in return that Obama and the Dems shut down the border....completely! They do that, they were willing to make some concessions with the Democrats.

Sounds realistic. Build a Great Wall of China and deport every man, woman, and child who entered illegally. Good luck with that one.

Obama has the worst track record of ANY president when it comes to the truth.

789 days to go until the madness ends.

The usual refrain from people who cannot persuade with cogent arguments.

Obama is rewriting the constitution

No he isn't. Again, you just show that you are not living in reality. There has been no mention of rewriting the constitution whatsoever.

taking matters into his own hands like the dictator I always knew him to truly be.

So then you agree that the last five Republican presidents, who also used executive orders on immigration reform, were also dictators? Because you can't have it both ways. Either the last five Republican presidents and Obama were/are all dictators, or none of them were/are.

Then for what and why do we have congress if the sainted anointed Emperor doesn't use it??

It's a good question why there is a congress - they are entirely useless due to the fact that the Republican side's single priority is opposing anything presented by the president. An example is immigration reform - there was a bipartisan bill presented, that certainly would have passed, and Boner, sorry Boehner, wouldn't even allow a vote on it, because it would have looked good for the black president, and we all know that the Republicans can't have that.

@plastic

Sounds realistic. Build a Great Wall of China and deport every man, woman, and child who entered illegally. Good luck with that one

Yes, it does. Israel does it, Ireland as well. Even Mexico has a tough immigration policy, but we shouldn't? We should just leave the borders open to anyone and everyone? If you have NO borders, you have NO country. I understand and realize most liberals don't care about sealing off the border, but what else is new.?

The usual refrain from people who cannot persuade with cogent arguments

More like, Libs are on a clock and that clock of of having the anointed King and his radicalization and destroying the country is slowly coming to an end, much to the dismay and disappointment of most liberals and Democrats.

@stranger

No he isn't. Again, you just show that you are not living in reality. There has been no mention of rewriting the constitution whatsoever

Sorry, stranger, yes, he did. I know you want to change the facts, but Obama does not have the constitutional authority to bypass congress like this. This is a complete overreach and abuse of executive power. He didn't rewrite anything, doesn't have to, just another example of how ludicrous and inept this guy really is and is NOTE mentally fit to govern.

So then you agree that the last five Republican presidents, who also used executive orders on immigration reform, were also dictators? Because you can't have it both ways. Either the last five Republican presidents and Obama were/are all dictators, or none of them were/are

The huge difference with that is, those presidents just signed laws that were already in place, NOT devise or change them to suit their personal political appetite! So yes, we do have an Emperor and this is a new day of the first week or our new monarchy. all hail his majesty.

It's a good question why there is a congress - they are entirely useless due to the fact that the Republican side's single priority is opposing anything presented by the president.

As they should, if they think that whatever he is doing is bad for the country. Again, we have 3 branches of government, they are all equal share of power and one can't simply override the other. The president can't just take over congress and execute laws, he sees fit whenever he feels like it! That's NOT how our system works, but one thing, I must say is, when Obama was first elected and he said, he wanted to change the country, he definitely didn't lie about that!

An example is immigration reform - there was a bipartisan bill presented, that certainly would have passed, and Boner, sorry Boehner, wouldn't even allow a vote on it, because it would have looked good for the black president, and we all know that the Republicans can't have that.

Again we have to take out the race card, seriously? That card played out a long time ago and NO ONE is listening to that, it's so passé. Boehner and the GOP don't trust Obama and with very good reason, he has never tried to seal the border completely, why? There is NO sane reason or justification for it. If I were Boehner, I wouldn't trust the president either, but I submit to you this, the Republicans should come up with their own immigration bill and revise and or add and match the presidents with one key point to permanently seal off the border. Wanna make a bet, he would veto it on the spot?! Of course he would, because this president is all about ideology first and foremost.

@bass

There's no wall around Ireland.

Maybe you're thinking of the "peace walls", which are entirely within the UK and designed to keep Catholics and Protestants apart, not immigrants out....

bass

The president can't just take over congress and execute laws, he sees fit whenever he feels like it! That's NOT how our system works

That's right. That's not how our system works. It is not possible for a single person to take control over the operations of the entire United States. And that's why your 'Emperor' thesis is total BS. Think about it for a few moments. This inept lazy golf playing Obama has taken over with a flick of the wrist? What a fragile democracy you live in.

More like, Libs are on a clock and that clock of of having the anointed King and his radicalization and destroying the country is slowly coming to an end, much to the dismay and disappointment of most liberals and Democrats.

That makes no sense. As a journalist you should know how to construct your locutions more clearly. By what historical understanding do you equate liberals (i.e. socialists in your mind) with monarchists? Bizarre you are.

@plastic

What a fragile democracy you live in.

You have inadvertently stumbled upon what Bass has been trying to tell you. Democracy is fragile. America's Founding generation understood that. Those known as the Federalist's among them foresaw the threat that a King -like executive such as Obama could pose to democracy. Obama is not actually rewriting the Constitution. He is simply ignoring it and therefore de facto changing it's meaning. Process matters in government because it lends legitimacy to the actions of governing officials. That is why Bush got bipartisan support for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars although the American president is granted great authority in matters of national defense. It is why opposition to Obamacare is so intense and enduring after Harry Reid jammed it through the Senate using irregular means and in the face of the animated opposition from Republicans. The ends do not justify the means.

That's right. That's not how our system works. It is not possible for a single person to take control over the operations of the entire United States.

Can you please tell his majesty that, because he's apparently NOT listening to anyone.

And that's why your 'Emperor' thesis is total BS. Think about it for a few moments. This inept lazy golf playing Obama has taken over with a flick of the wrist? What a fragile democracy you live in.

If that were true with what yous just said, then why bypass Congress, Bush and Reagan didn't, why does Obama get a pass, oh, wait...I know why.....

That makes no sense.

Liberals always say that when reality hits them straight on.

As a journalist you should know how to construct your locutions more clearly. By what historical understanding do you equate liberals (i.e. socialists in your mind) with monarchists? Bizarre you are.

Plastic, I work and on the go, Siri is good, but not perfect, none of us are. But the truth is most liberals believe in spreading the wealth, robbing the affluent and giving it to others. I'm not writing a book or a story that will appear in the WSJ tomorrow, relax, dude. It's NOT that serious, not bizarre, well, perhaps for liberal progressive uppity standards, but nothing out of the ordinary.