The advocates, including the AFL-CIO and pro-immigration groups, argue that Obama should use his executive authority to expand a 2012 decision that halted deportations of young people brought to the United States illegally by their parents. The administration's aggressive approach to enforcement -- which has resulted in nearly 2 million deportations during Obama's tenure -- makes little sense at a time when Congress could be on the verge of providing legal relief, advocates say.Let's pretend the law we want is already passed!
The push places the White House in a difficult political position as it attempts to negotiate with a House Republican caucus sharply divided on immigration. Leading conservatives said over the weekend that the chief impediment to a deal is their distrust that Obama would enforce new border-security provisions if a large portion of the nation's 11.7 million illegal immigrants are granted legal status.
At least the WaPo used the term 'illegal'.
AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka said in an interview last week that the White House would actually improve its bargaining position with House Republicans if Obama unilaterally suspended deportations. Millions of undocumented immigrants would be allowed to join the public debate, Trumka said, putting more pressure on a party struggling to broaden its appeal with Latinos and Asian Americans.
"If I were president, I would have said the following: 'It's a broken system. Except for violent criminals, no more deportations until you help me fix a broken system,' " Trumka said.
Trumka must've learned his arm-twisting techniques in Chicago. Or the United Mine Workers.
"The president's stated policy since taking office is 'enforcement on steroids' in order to gain credibility and give him leverage on negotiations over immigration reform," Karp said. "That strategy is a failure. It's failed politically and caused untold suffering in the immigrant community. It's time for a new strategy."