Obama acts wisely on immigration: Column
President's executive action represents sound, thoughtful policy.
At last. After month of delays, President Obama made good on his promise and announced his executive action on immigration Thursday night. His plan expands the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and creates a new program for undocumented parents with citizen children. The president said that his administration's deportation priorities will be "felons, not families," and "criminals, not children."
The president's plan is a significant step that will provide relief for millions of undocumented immigrants. It will provide greater clarity to our immigration system, and a more efficient use of law enforcement resources. Besides being supported by historical precedent, his executive action represents sound, thoughtful policy.
The president's plan will ease the requirements for young people to be eligible for Deferred Action. These are immigrants who have been educated here at taxpayer expense, and can now attend college, serve in the military or work without fear of deportation. Opening up Deferred Action eligibility to more people will pay dividends for the USA; that means more tax revenue being generated, as well as a boost to our economy. It will also free up law enforcement resources to focus on traffickers, drug dealers and terrorist threats.
Obama's scrapping of the Secure Communities program is another wise move. Secure Communities is a controversial program that, in effect, turns local police officers across the U.S. into immigration agents. It has often resulted in racial profiling of Hispanics, and many cities and towns have chafed at its requirements and expense. Secure Communities has strayed far from its intended purpose. One study by law professors at the University of Chicago and New York University found that its effect on deterring crime had been zero. Its replacement, the new Priority Enforcement Program, will help restore trust between law enforcement officials and communities – and that will keep everyone safer.
It's worth noting that the president's plan will not offer any incentive for people to enter the U.S. illegally. In fact, recent arrivals will be prioritized for deportation, sending the message to other countries that we do not have "open borders" or "amnesty."
The president's plan is not ideal. It is temporary and subject to cancellation by a future president. It creates clear winners -- the White House estimates that as many as 5 million immigrants may be eligible for relief from deportation. But losers, too. Sadly, undocumented parents with non-citizen children (such as the parents of Deferred Action recipients) will not qualify for any protection under the new plan.
This will be a bitter pill for many of the Dreamers, who have worked tirelessly to force Obama's hand through activism and civil disobedience. Yet it shows that the White House recognizes that executive action has limits, and that the Obama administration is acting with respect for existing law.
Sure, Republicans are going ballistic over the president's moves, threatening everything from a lawsuit to impeachment. But executive action on immigration is not at all unprecedented. President Franklin Roosevelt took executive action on immigration when he created the Bracero program for Mexican workers during World War II. Presidents of both parties have taken executive action at least 39 times in the last 60 years. Even conservative legal scholars agree that the president has the authority to act alone on immigration. And the president reiterated in his speech that if Congress sends him a comprehensive bill, he's willing to rescind his executive action.
President Obama is offering undocumented immigrants historic, compassionate relief from deportation. Until Congress decides to act, this represents a move towards a more consistent immigration system. His executive action is welcome and necessary.
Raul Reyes is an attorney in New York and a member of Paste BN's Board of Contributors.
In addition to its own editorials, Paste BN publishes diverse opinionsfrom outside writers, including our Board of Contributors . To read more columns like this, go to theopinion front pageor follow us on twitter@USATopinionorFacebook.