Elections halt immigation
The president’s political aspirations push border talks further down the road
BORDERLINE — United States Border Patrol fence dividing Nogales, Arizona to the left and Nogales, Sonora to the right. Google Images
President Barack Obama has always claimed to be fighting for the well-being of the country. Immigration reform was a cornerstone of his 2012 presidential campaign.
However, with elections around the corner, the president has chosen to delay action on immigration reform, alluding to possible executive action in the future.
“Because of the Republicans’ extreme politicization of this issue, the president believes it would be harmful to the policy itself and to the long-term prospects for comprehensive immigration reform to announce administrative actions before the elections,” a White House official told the New York Times. “Because he wants to do this in a way that’s sustainable, the president will take action on immigration before the end of the year.”
The president is delaying executive action until after the November elections, according to CNN and supported by official White House comments to the New York Times.
The Republican-controlled House has provided a needed source of checks and balances for Obama. Republicans have given the president only $659 million of the $3.7 billion he requested for the border crisis, according to CNN. The House also decided on a provision to make it easier to quickly deport illegal immigrants currently living in the United States.
But, with elections quickly approaching, Obama has made it clear that now is not the time for Congressional conflict. He has slammed on the breaks in regard to the border crisis and has focused on attempting to regain control of the House and retain a Democratic majority in the Senate. If the Democrats gain a majority in the House and Senate, Obama will be handed carte blanche for the remainder of his presidency.
TENSION — Immigration reform has been a source of friction between Republicans and Democrats. Google Images
Political aspirations are at the top of the priority list for Obama. Unless Latinos and illegal immigrants play a role in those aspirations, they are tossed by the wayside.
“Today the president and the Senate Democrats have made it very clear that undocumented immigrants and Latinos are simply viewed as political pawns,” Eddie Carmona, campaign manager for the PICO immigration reform group, told Reuters.
It is alarming that Obama’s commitment only runs as deep as his political priorities.
“The truth of the matter is … that the politics did shift midsummer because of that problem (immigration),” Obama said in response to questions surrounding the sudden halt on immigration reform. “I want to spend some time, even as we’re getting all our ducks in a row for the executive action. I also want to make sure that the public understands why we’re doing this, why it’s the right thing for the American people, why it’s the right thing for the American economy.”
According to an article published by Reuters, a Reuters/Ipsos poll last month showed 70 percent of Americans believe undocumented immigrants threaten the country’s culture and economy. For Obama, acting now on immigration is not politically feasible.
According to an article by the Washington Post, there are approximately 11 million immigrants in the United States. Under the current system, the majority of these immigrants would be sent back, but Obama hopes to allow immigrants living in the U.S. currently the chance to stay.
“The president caused this self-inflicted crisis on the border by refusing to enforce the law,” John Carter, a Republican senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, told the New York Times.
The border crisis has exposed Obama’s top priority — his political aspirations.
“We are bitterly disappointed in the president,” Frank Sharry, executive director of the group America’s Voice, told Fox News. “The president and Senate Democrats have chosen politics over people.”
WARRENDER is an opinion writer