Some Questions About Obama’s Immigration Plan
By Thomas G. Brown | 06/18/2012 | Immigration, Issues, President | 15 CommentsLate this week at a Rose Garden address President Barack Obama made an announcement that he would allow about 800,000 illegal immigrants to stay in the United States and grant them work visas. He stated that this is the right thing to do so that they can fulfill their dreams of working in the United States:
“Put yourself in their shoes. Imagine you’ve done everything right your entire life — studied hard, worked hard, maybe even graduated at the top of your class — only to suddenly face the threat of deportation to a country that you know nothing about, with a language that you may not even speak.”
There are a number of questions that should be asked about this plan to give temporary relief from deportation for these illegal immigrants.
But the question asked by The Daily Caller reporter Neil Munro, who interrupted the president’s speech in an odd breach of typical etiquette), is one which has been largely ignored but is extremely certain when considering the economic climate. His question is below:
“Why’d you favor foreigners over Americans?”
“Excuse me, sir, but it’s not time for questions,” Obama responded.
“Are you going to take questions?” Munro asked.
“Not while I’m speaking.” Obama said.
What about the Americans who have to compete now with the additional 800,000 looking for work in the United States? I am a free market advocate who feels that the best person should get the job and would have no problem with these additional workers if we operated in a free market, but we do not; we have government intervention through the minimum wage, regulations, taxes, and other laws, all of which increase the cost of doing business and prevent employers from hiring more employees even when they are needed.
Also, let us not forget the costs to the taxpayer that these illegal immigrants represent. Take the cost annually to the California public school system. It costs taxpayers there about $10.7 billion dollars per year to take care of the education of illegal immigrants, the same children Obama now wants to grant work visas so they can continue their American Dream. What about the unemployed and recently graduated who are struggling to find work; why not work on helping them achieve their dream first?
Another good question is how will this help the illegal immigrants long term? In his own words this is a temporary fix. So after their work visas expire they will head back to their home country. So these young people who I do feel sympathy for have no relief in terms of worry about their long term plans. Does Obama plan on giving them amnesty if re-elected?
The last and most crucial question about this is whether or not it is legal for the President to just unilaterally create new law. From what I understand of the Constitution it is not. This maneuver is troubling as it takes the power of writing and passing the laws from the legislative branch. Our founders did not design this type of government. The president is simply making a political move in an election year.





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15 Comments
Thomas G. Brown
06.18.2012
@tgbreport
The reason I find the Act so appalling is that the President has an entire 4 years to use his position to deal with this issue. Yes, Congress blocked the Dream Act but he could have broken down the bill and taken the most crucial points as he saw it and offered it to Congress. He did the same thing with the Health Care Bill. He did not and now more than half the country is upset with the law we have.
Bill Jurkovich
06.18.2012
What’s temporary about it?
Thomas G. Brown
06.18.2012
@tgbreport
It’s temporary as it is an executive order that can be overturned by the next President.
Bob Jackson
06.19.2012
Or the Executive Order can be replaced by a sensible, and responsive Congress drafting the appropriate (citizen approved) legislation that would be approved by the President (in his second term.)
Cathy Giancola
06.18.2012
I know the President can sign executive orders to bypass Congress – but is it morally right to abuse it for buying votes. If he wanted this to really happen, he would have done it as soon as he entered office. Maybe, it’s a Presidential right that should be taken away.
Lauren Moore
06.20.2012
@laurendimitra
It is no doubt a president’s “right” that should be take away. Same as the veto rights on the UN security Council. Their job is to do what’s best for the citizens and if Congress doesn’t approve he needs to ask why, fix what’s wrong, and keep trying till it passes the correct way.
Cletus Taylor
06.18.2012
This absolute idiotic and needs to be over ruled and repealed be our legislature asap.
Bill Jurkovich
06.18.2012
Cathy, he tried to his first year in office. The Dems. had control of the House. But, the Republicans filibustered it to death and killed it. With the Republican controlled congress bent on killing ANYTHING he proposes, the Executive Order has become just about his only effective means of doing ANYTHING.
Dave MacDonald
06.18.2012
His order did not do anything other than to change the priorities in his enforcement of illegal immigrants. He has had his funding for immigration enforcement cut by congress. Remember he has deported more illegals that any of his predessors. In the end, however, I do not support the Dream Act.
Dianne DeMattia
06.18.2012
bill, I can’t believe you just justified dictator decision making in a Democratic -Republic. we want arguments in Congress and between the 3 powers. that’s what ensures liberty and the democratic process. God help us when we citizens are ok with an emperor instead of a president. The executive order is supposed to be for dire emergency and security matters, not policy making.
Hayde Johnoff
06.18.2012
The only dictators are the rep of congress who have the attitude “my way or the highway”!
Bill Jurkovich
06.18.2012
I do not support illegal immigration. I’m just saying that the,”Tee-hee-hee” party is the tail wagging the dog. The fact that they kneel before Grover Nordquist to kiss his ass, is treasonous (Who the hell is this guy anyway?! Does he have pornographic photos of the GOP leaders with farm animals?) Where did HE get so much power? When sworn into office, elected officials pledge to uphold the Constitution. Where the Hell does the,”Tea Party” get off?!
Serge Cruz
06.19.2012
Good job President Obama. Although some people fail to see the long term benefits of this measure you certainly see them. Not just that, but finally a politician passes something simply because its the Right thing to do.
Faith Eischen
06.19.2012
@faitheischen
How will this immigration plan benefit the average American citizen?
Bob Jackson
06.19.2012
Objecting to Presidential Executive Orders? Any Objections to a “Stealth Republican Leaders Strategy Meeting,” DURING President Obama’s Inauguration, which put a plan in place TO BLOCK ANY & EVERYTHING (during the entire administration) that the new President proposes? Any Shouting about the Issue there? Or is it; To Hell with the responsibility of the Entire Congress – to their constituency, adhering to the U. S. Constitution and to their Vow “To Defend and Protect The United States of America?” …….