It looks like President Obama is singing an old Paul McCartney tune:
| "I've had enough I can't put up with any more No no no no no no no I've had enough I can't put up with any more No no no no no no no" |
And maybe he finally means it. During a recent news conference President Obama emphatically said that "Before the end of the year, we're going to take whatever lawful actions that I can take that I believe will improve the functioning of our immigration system, ... What I'm not going to do is just wait."
According to today's CNN's headline "Obama to announce 10-point immigration plan via exec action as early as next week" and Fox news announced that a source close to the White House told them that President Obama plans to reveal as early as next Friday, a plan which would shield 5 Million Immigrants from deportation by applying executive action .
A centerpiece of the order permits many parents of children who are American citizens or legal residents to obtain legal work credentials and would take away the constant fear about being discovered, alienated from their families and deported.
It appears that the Obama plan could have an effect on as many as 3.3 million people who have lived in the United States illegally for at least five years. However, the White House is also thinking about a stricter policy that limits the benefits to people who have lived in the country for at least 10 years, or about 2.5 million people.
Moreover, extending protections to more undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children, and to their parents, could affect an additional one million or more if they are included in the final plan that the president announces.
This section would expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which, Obama created in June 2012. The program was a lifesaver for illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, entered before June 2007 and were under 31 as of June 2012. The modification would enlarge the dates to include anyone who entered before they were 16, and the cut-off would change from June 2007 to Jan. 1, 2010. This is projected to make nearly 300,000 illegal immigrants eligible.
Mr. Obama's executive action actions will also enlarge opportunities for immigrants who have high-tech skills, move extra security resources to the nation's southern border, overhaul a controversial immigration enforcement program called Secure Communities, and provide clear guidance to the agencies that enforce immigration laws. Clarifying who should be a low priority for deportation, such as those with strong family ties and no serious criminal history.
A new enforcement memorandum will make clear that deportations should still proceed for convicted criminals, foreigners who pose national security risks and also, recent border crossers.
Perhaps this forceful action by the President will push the recalcitrant republicans to work on a true comprehensive immigration reform law. One that will resolve the ongoing problem for the millions of other undocumented immigrants that do not have close ties to a U.S. citizen, but have contributed favorably to our country for many years.