Civil Candor

Like any politician, President Obama likes to tout his accomplishments. He even likes to take credit for achievements that have not taken place, like implementing his new fuel efficiency standards. To give credit where it is due, he has had one enormous success. Forcing the health care bill through Congress was quite a coup, but it was topped by last week’s victory for illegal immigrants. After years of congressional haggling over what we should do with millions of illegals, President Obama made history and set precedent by taking the easy way out, removing Congress from the equation altogether.

In an August 18, 2011 letter to Harry Reid, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano discussed the new immigration policy as the offspring of two ICE memos, but the impact of President Obama’s amnesty scheme will be much more than an administrative exercise. Americans unhappy about shelling out tax dollars from their unemployment checks for services for illegal immigrants (see: Shared Sacrifice Gives Middle Class Tax Money to Illegals) would be correct to view this as an abuse of power that bodes poorly for their futures. Given the economy’s march towards the Great Obama Recession, is appeasing the president’s campaign supporters for the benefit of citizens from other countries acceptable, and does Mr. Obama know he crossed the line?

Given White House insistence that immigration reform is essential for everything from national security to job creation to maintaining America’s technological prowess, talk of immigration was curiously absent during the president’s recent heartland stumping tour. Visiting hamlets like Decorah, Iowa and Cannon Falls, Minnesota, he did not talk about immigration, the DREAM Act, or his fait accompli, non-legislative amnesty. Backdoor amnesty is a triumph for the Obama presidency, so why is the White House not bringing this new victory to the voters? Are there worries that Americans might not approve?

Part of the problem with the White House’s strategy is that it provides more proof that Washington has failed us. We are told we must cut back on immigration enforcement so we can round up criminal aliens for whom there is no administratively tidy means of deportation. Instead of whining about scarce Homeland Security resources, officials could always consider reforming the way we deal with criminal alien cases. We could let the states help out, since the Federal Government does not seem up to the task and Alabama, Arizona, and others have demonstrated an eagerness to step up to the plate. Homeland Security could hire more ICE officers, but then they might turn around and deport too many illegals. We could rely on another federal program, something with a name that makes us feel good, like Secure Communities.

 In keeping with administration policy of prohibiting states from protecting themselves from illegal immigration, 39 states were informed that their participation in Secure Communities was irrelevant, because the Federal Government does not require their consent to administer the program. Even the governor of Illinois took a hit on this one, having already made the decision to stop participating. New amnesty policy or not, Secure Communities will be a problem for our president. The program has outraged supporters of illegal immigrants because non-criminal illegals have ended up in ICE’s net, joining the bad guys on the long, sad trip home.

Surprisingly, Mr. Obama has taken heat from his own party for not rolling out the red carpet for illegals. Illinois Representative Luis Gutierrez criticized the president’s commitment to the cause:

The Latino and immigrant voters I talk to — and those at NCLR conference — seem to think that his personal investment in helping immigrant families is lacking. [1]

Gutierrez’ solution, it turns out, is what taxpayers were saddled with last week:

The question is whether the President will exercise the powers he has under current law to give DREAM Act students and other immigrants relief from deportation when it is in the national interest of the United States. [2]

What’s a president to do?  Mr. Obama is taking grief from Democrats. The GOP is justifiably outraged. African Americans pushed aside by Latinos are questioning the president’s dedication to their interests. Notoriously hungry illegal immigrant pressure groups are not going to be satisfied until they are handed a genuine amnesty bill. For all of his talk about the GOP bowing to the demands of special interests, the president is in a tough spot, beholden to supporters whose demands will conflict with the interests of American citizens damaged by Democratic financial excess. The president did not boast of his non-legislative fix for illegal immigration because amnesty for illegals will not go over well in the heartland, or anywhere else where Americans are hurting while they are being told that illegals are the future of our country.     

1.. Luis V. Gutierrez.  When It Comes to Obama and Immigration, Those Shouting “Yes He Can” (“Si Se Puede”) Are Right. July 25, 2011. http://www.gutierrez.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id= 694%3Awhen-it-comes-to-obama-and-immigration-those-shouting-qyes-he-canq-qsi-se-puedeq-are-right&catid=50%3A2011-press-releases&Itemid=30, retrieved August 18, 2011.

2..Ibid.