Congratulations conservatives, you won! Despite all of the doom and gloom in advance of tonight’s big announcement, Obama has now committed to, by executive order, do what he was already doing.[read_more]
For a few days, every right of center alternative media outlet lamented the end of our republic as President Obama prepared to announce an amnesty plan by executive order, subverting the Congress. This is the most troubling part of the announcement:
If you’ve been in America for more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens or legal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you’re willing to pay your fair share of taxes — you’ll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily, without fear of deportation. You can come out of the shadows and get right with the law.
So he is going to ignore the law, and not deport people. In all honesty, was not this the policy of this administration yesterday, two years ago, and six years ago? So the sun will rise tomorrow and the President still intends to not deport nearly all illegal immigrants.
But he is going to grant them a pathway to citizenship!
Nope. He got cold feet, probably because the pressure was on from the outside. He said this:
“It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive — only Congress can do that. All we’re saying is we’re not going to deport you.”
Apparently, there comes a time when even President Obama, under public pressure, will not completely subvert the constitution.
So where does this leave opponents of “comprehensive immigration reform?”
I agree with the left that these actions, as stated, are similar to those actions of previous Republican Presidents. This does not mean these actions are constitutional, just historically similar. Congress could sue to force Obama to comply with the law as written. Don’t hold your breath.
Instead we are right where we were yesterday. Obama is not deporting most illegal immigrants, Republicans will talk the good talk, but not act, and conservatives will need to keep the pressure up so the Republicans hold the line for another two years. At least Obama does not intend to illegally grant citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants via executive order (as of today).
37 comments
One thing else nobody has mentioned. The employers who are now hiring these illegals, ( future voters) don’t they now have blanket amnesty? How do you call these employers innocent? You think immigrants are coming here for a vacation?
I think you are behind on this. In my opinion, the better funded, larger employers are going to South America, and sponsoring, funding, whatever term you would like to use, legally importing cheap immigrant labor. Anything to keep from hiring “locals”.
The way this works is these companies hire one, who needs to speak some English. Then they start importing friends and family once the first one is “vetted” as a worker who can be worked like a slave, for what amounts to less than minimum wage, as they have to pay all the fee’s back involved in transporting them here, and getting them the right paperwork.
How many companies do you know that have hired only one “future voter”? I guess the question is why are the empoyers of these “future Democrat voters” getting amnesty?
On Dec.01 , 2014 Governor McAuliffe will ” update ” the General assembly on the ” Task Force ” on Employee Misclassification { JLARC Report 427 } .
This update should not be hiding the fact that DOLI issues violations to unlicensed building contractors / Illegal Aliens .
A certain percentage of these violations should be detected by the VEC in their employer audits performed under the Virginia Employment Compensation Act.
If the update does not discuss this issue , will the Republican Legislative Majority be outspoken ?
Would the R Majority write Legislation mandating the detection { through all state Dept. and agencies } of unlicensed building contractors and their Licensed counterparts conspiring in the delivery of contracting services { prohibited act Statutes 54.1-1100 } , or will they continue to fertilize the ” Underground Labor Market ” in Va. with Criminals, MS-13 and future illegal aliens from all over the world ?
When are Republicans going to learn the critical political skill to successfully play the game two moves beyond the current one. Obama has successfully walked through phase one with the apologists claiming either out of willing ignorance or plan lack of foresight the WH troll line that its “not so bad no one is being granted citizenship” and after all its nothing either Presidents Bush or Clinton didn’t do as well in exercising immigration enforcement discretion in order to further foreign policy or humanitarian goals (notice they never mention that these Presidents were acting under Congressional approvals) or that what Obama is doing is functionally rewriting U.S. immigration law). I see the distinction do you? The former were enacted based on specific humanitarian crises or foreign policy events and narrowly tailored to help specific subsets of immigrants. Obama on the other hand is giving out work permits, Social Security numbers, and drivers licenses to as many as 5 million illegal immigrants who simply managed to cross our unsecured borders in open defiance of our well established immigration laws. It doesn’t take legal training just a passing acquaintance of the US Constitution to understand that this is a flagrant act that voids Congress’s exclusive Article I power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. As regards what does this immediately mean to the taxpayer (other then shredding our Constitution) they will clearly be on the hook for local cost increases relating to school enrollments and if you are to believe Cecilia Munoz, the former immigration lobbyist who is now a top Obama aide, when asked if the illegals would get annual payments under the Earned Income Tax Credit program responsed, “They are subject to our tax law”. Since most of these households will have very low income, and pay little to nothing in taxes once illegal immigrants are enrolled in the tax system, they would be entitled to EITC payments. This cost could be staggering as in 2011 roughly 22 percent of immigrant households — both legal and illegal — were classified as living in poverty. Contrast this with the 13 percent of American households were in poverty and you may grasp some idea of the future uncovered tax liabilities ahead. But rest assured that this will only be a temporary maneuver to shield these individuals. I would certainly wager that Obama’s next step will be to move this selected group of temporary workers to the head of the green card line in front of countless individuals that have been waiting years by providing waivers to illegal immigrant family members of citizens and any others he can walk under the slumbering noise of the so called Republican opposition. Volia, yet another constitutionally questionable move directly violating existing immigration law. Do the Republicans really believe that the contract order for 34 million new green cards was just prudent planning on the Democrats part or might they have another motive in mind? Once phase 2 is over then this future Democratic block will be in the full entitlement system primed for vote mining. Yes that Obama is a real “wimp” alright if you can’t see past the end or your own silly rhetoric.
But we all appreciate the recent spike in juvenile gang activity in Fairfax County and surrounding jurisdictions.
Yes. all those yuppy white children or corrupt lobyist and GOP strategists are causing chaos
Of, not or
Obama does not understand (or care) that his descent arrived on the heels of the unaccompanied children at the southern border. Americans began to recognize that the democrats and their emperor were decidedly …naked. the dems and Prez’s numbers started heading south from that moment. What the President just did is doubling down on that move….and when Hillary chimed in to praise it, she began to show the American People where HER bread is buttered. This may actually make 2016 even more complex for a democrat win that year. If this unpopular move is the decision factor, Clinton may not make it.
I saw Clinton’s overt support, and thought essentially the same thing.
Look, first you have to understand that the Democrats do not look at illegals as illegals, or immigrants as immigrants. They look at them as votes, or future votes, for the Democrats.
But the Republican’s are addicted to the cheap labor. Not about to give up the profit, some of which finances their PAC’s and campaigns. They simply have not found a way to get the cheap labor and get the votes?
In my opinion, this saber rattling is about payback for the Republican’s hassling the minority voters at the polls for the last few years. What next, fingerprints, or DNA test before one can vote?
I want to end this myth about so-called “cheap labor.” It is not cheap. When Ruben comes from El Salvador to work for $10 an hour in construction he brings his family with him. It costs mucho dinero to educate – or attempt to educate – his children, and his children probably get “free” school lunch provided to them by the taxpayers. When they are sick the taxpayer has to pay for them. Then, if his wife has a child here, Ouila! Instant American citizen, anchor baby, and the good times start to roll in terms of other assorted benefits. Yeah, John Smith the construction owner does real well with cheap labor. But the average American has to subsidize this “cheap labor.”
So, you think the government should go after the companies and the people who employ them?
And if they did, what would happen to the PAC and campaign money that these employers donate to these politicians?
The difference is legal status, work permits and now eligibility for EITC. Taxpayers will be giving these illegals even more money now. We already take care of the kids healthcare, feed them and school them.
We also can collect taxes com them now so that they can start taking care of our kids’ healthcare, feed them and school them
Maybe you don’t understand how EITC or our tax system works. They do pay some taxes, but they get thousands more back if they are below a certain income and especially if they have children. And btw, they were already paying taxes if they got payroll checks. THey just didn’t file taxes.
Not true.
VERY TRUE. They suck entitlements like a vacuum. And the fact that he said they won’t get any welfare is just more lies. Plenty of illegal aliens are on welfare logs in California and other states RIGHT NOW. Every time this President moves his lips, he lies.
Still not true, even though you post it
EITC is wage subsidization for low income individuals. It is designed to get people off of what was traditionally considered welfare, and back into the work force. We do not need to be subsidizing the wages of illegal aliens. If Obama’s plan is to allow the EITC, WIC, food stamp, etc. programs to apply to people who have been temporarily granted a reprieve from deportation, then his executive orders will have done far more than he formally announced. There is a legislative fix to the problem, and Congress ought to put it in front of the President and force him to veto it.
I’m rather surprised as I have found your other postings on this blog well informed but it appears in this case you really don’t understand what is going on within this administration regarding this topic or you simply failed to due your home work on the issue.
Mr. Wood,
A partially well-taken criticism. Apparently WIC and food stamps are already available regardless of Obama’s executive order. EITC was also available due to the lack of concern of citizenship status with the IRS, but for an extremely important catch. You have to have a SSN to obtain properly pay taxes and obtain the EITC. With such SSN, as will be obtained via executive order now, illegal immigrants will be able to declare a part of their earnings in order to claim the EITC and continue to work under the table for the remainder.
These are problems Congress can cure, if they have the guts to do so.
WIC benefits under HHS and SNAP assistance under the auspices of USDA had NOT been universally extended to non citizens. Access was variable on a state by state basis given the individual state’s interpretation of availability based on an individual’s illegal status. EITC was NOT legally available period except for payments provided by the IRS in error to unqualified individuals. With the Obama announcement henceforth ALL of the programs are fully open by executive order REGARDLESS of existing federal or state statute to those covered under his executive action (TBD where that line will or will not be drawn). This is by any measure a “significant change” in policy and a new formalization of a currently unfunded taxpayer commitment that will have to be covered by either an Obama budget reduction in other program areas (that’s a ha-ha you hear in the background), new revenue sources (e.g. taxes) or a further increase to existing government debt (my likely scenario). Only Jack believed in the magic beans that led to the goose that laid the free golden eggs and perhaps Obama Democrats and House Republican leadership. The rest of us will simply pay the bill.
You clearly don’t understand the IRS’s EITC program or how it works with the filing process.
Too bad the GOP congress decided to stall and block any legislation instead acting. Then we would have had the right laws, on this issue and many more. The republicans forced Obama to act when their insistence over the last 6 years that the best strategy was doing nothing.
The Republicans want the cheap labor, the Democrats want the vote.
Business as usual, with one exception, the low info “Limbaughlites” actually think something has changed.
Put a smile on their face!
Either you are ignorant of the immigration reforms the House tried to send through or you are just being dishonest. Since you sound like you are mimicing talking points of Organizing for America, we can just assume you are ignorant of those legislative efforts.
Dix years of doing nothing. What immigration measures did they pass?
That’s the point. They didn’t. And wisely so. Obama’s description of bipartisanship is forcing republicans to do what he wanted all along. There is ZERO flex in the emperor, however.
the funny thing is that if the GOP is to overturn any of Obama’s decisions, they will finally have to do something like pass a bill. After six years of blockage, I am not sure they remember how to do that.
I second that. So many times I see KNOWN democrats trying to play as republicans or independents when suggesting what republicans “ought to do” …so that they aren’t called out for what they really are….liberals.
So will we still see a flood of new illegals coming across the border in days to come? That is the concern.
I appreciate the optimism a d hope the author is right.
Is this supposed to make me feel better about the direction of this country or the opportunities that may exist for my grandchildren?
It doesn’t.
No it is not a feel good piece. It is designed to point out that Obama did not actually do anything new here. The pressure being placed on Republicans by conservatives has been effective, but not controlling. Obama was afraid to completely ignore the constitution here. These days, this is what constitutes a victory.
No, but what you **should** feel is concerned that this once-promising blog is slowly trending from bold, vigorous conservatism into something more pastel, Panglossian,”rah, rah yeah us” and accommodating to euthanizing the old Constitution, or at least placing it in palliative care in a room seldom visited.
I think I understand Paul’s reasons for trying to put a bright spin on things, but what is called for now instead is an understanding of the implications of the president’s illegal actions. Not only has a line been crossed, but it may have been moved as well. A failure to vigorously oppose this will further weaken the legislative branch, as Jonathan Turley has pointedout. To say Obama has really not accomplished anything with his action is like not seeing hairline cracks in load-bearing walls after an earthquake and saying, “Well everything is still standing, so we’re good.”
Likewise, does anyone not have imagination enough to know what kind of conversations are occurring around the world, especially in Latin America, after the president’s action? Bob Goodlatte, bless his heart, has announced that his committee is going to hold “hearings” on the president’s actions. By the time Bob gets to his 10th witness, there will likely be thousands more illegals in America. We have a community action president. He doesn’t give a gnat’s fart for “process;” he just goes straight for what he wants, and our guys either don’t understand or they don’t care that they’ve been outflanked.
House Republicans should pass a Continuing Resolution to fund the government until the new Congress is sworn in and therein shift funding from some of the President’s pet
projects to completing the southern border fence to protect us against the next wave of illegals encouraged by his illegal executive action.
Let him shut down the government over that. Let the American people see that choice between their security and his illegal actions. They aren’t stupid. I’ve lived in Third World countries and watched their dysfunctional systems bring corruption and misery and poverty to their citizens. We aren’t too far from that.
I hope Goodlatte does a better job at screening witnesses than the same committee did in 2005-7. Get the right witnesses and the immigration debate will change dramatically and Congress might even become relevant again.
Dont tell me or anyone else what they should feel. that is quite rude.
Obama’s announcement was a PR stunt. In my opinion, acting as if the world is ending after the announcement increases the effectiveness of his stunt.
You also know that Congress will not be suing over this. Oppose this move all you want. Keep up the fight, and the next time the issue of “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” is raised again we will probably be able to head of the path to citizenship again.
As for once-promising blog: I know that you know there was no coverage of this in the Virginia conservative blogosphere before the announcement. What little has occurred has been trickling in. I call it like I see it. We are always interested in other well thought out guest contributions. Feel free to reach out to us.
No insult intended, Paul, just a disagreement between conservatives.
I am just some guy on the internet in his pajamas, but a wide swatch of respected conservative opinion agrees with me on the necessity of Congressional Republicans taking action to protect the Constitution from Obama’s overreach. But they aren’t.
And the silence from conservative blogs is strange, given the high
stakes and the fact that everyone — legislators and us — have known
this Executive Order was coming for weeks. With respect, I’d suggest to you that no “trickling in” of information is necessary. We’ve known f this action was coming down the pike — yet the silence on this and other blogs is mysterious, and it can only make Virginia conservatives wonder what’s going on.
Has a deal been cut to downplay this issue, “for the good of the party?” Have some Virginia conservatives decided sacrificing the integrity of the Constitution is worth building a “winning” party? These question naturally arise.