Obama’s action not revolutionary or harmful
The long-awaited action by President Barack Obama to bypass a divided Congress and enact his own immigration reform finally came Thursday evening. For the 5 million people who live under the constant fear of being separated from their families and homes, it probably came as a relief.
The backlash has already begun.
In the hours leading up to Obama’s prime-time address to the nation, Republicans took to the media to launch every verbal assault in their arsenal. They pronounced the action unconstitutional and illegal. They threatened lawsuits, impeachment and revenge in the form of obstructionism. On Friday, House Speaker John Boehner actually filed a lawsuit, but it was over the Affordable Care Act, not immigration.
Alabama Republican Rep. Mo Brooks, never one to shy from an incendiary quote, even suggested the president could be thrown in jail for aiding and abetting criminals.
Immigration reform has been on Congress’ agenda for more than a decade, and it has failed miserably in getting anything done. Even President George W. Bush was thwarted in his sensible efforts at reform.
They could have started with Rep. Jeff Denham’s ENLIST Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for anyone who serves honorably in our armed services. There can be no better starting place. But Denham’s own party has let his act languish for 15 months without action.
The GOP’s reaction to the president’s action is not surprising, though disingenuous. Obama’s modest deportation relief plan is hardly groundbreaking. Both Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush used their executive action power to grant deportation relief to certain immigrant populations. Congress didn’t sue.
The action Obama outlined includes deportation relief and work authorization that applies to people we want to come out from the shadows: undocumented resident parents of citizens and others who have lived here for more than five years and contributed to our communities and economy. They must pass background checks and pay back taxes before qualifying. It also lifts the age limit on DREAMers, children brought to the country without permission, and includes more resources for border security.
Though the deportation relief doesn’t specifically carve out agricultural workers, thousands of them will potentially benefit. According to the United Farm Workers, about 250,000 farmworkers nationwide, half of them in California, will be eligible.
We do agree with House Republicans that executive action is not the ideal way to address immigration. It isn’t permanent and won’t create a path to citizenship, but it’s the best we’ve got right now.
There’s a way for Congress to win this debate, however, one that’s easier than lawsuits and impeachment and that deprives Obama a political victory to boot: Pass a comprehensive reform bill.
Boy, that would show ’em.
This story was originally published November 21, 2014 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Obama’s action not revolutionary or harmful."