Obama's immigration changes upset Republican plans

Awarding law breakers is a bad practice for any lawyers, except the rogue lawyers. Obama fixes nothing. The illegal underground economy still exist, and illegal immigrants continue to come even at greater number in the future. So, why is now and for what? Politics as usual for this convenient narcissist Obama to gain the upper hands in Hispanics voting block. Obama is a divider in chief joining the rank with Al Sharpton as opportunistic politician at all cost. Obama learns well from communist China, Putin, Hugo Chavez, and Gruber. There will be more vicious acts to come in the next two years when his back is against the wall.

Bgood41 Nov. 22, 2014 - 07:42AM JST The illegal underground economy still exist, and illegal immigrants continue to come even at greater number in the future. So, why is now and for what? Politics as usual for this convenient narcissist Obama to gain the upper hands in Hispanics voting block.

Then what is a solution to the U.S. agricultural industry that depends on illegals? The dirty secret that everybody knew was that majority of the U.S. agricultural workers were immigrants, and over 90 percent of them illegal. Without them, farmers are substantially short of the number of workers they needed to harvest the crop. Despite high unemployment in many of the states, most U.S. residents don’t want such back-breaking jobs, nor do they have the necessary skills. They rather starve then pick lettuce or oranges. Although many Americans believe immigrants “steal” jobs and push down wages, there is little evidence of that.

Bgood. Your English and opinion are confusing. I assume you are not American and therefore may have no idea what your talking about. I am not American but I see his point,because I listened to the argument, and I understand the opposition party is opposing anything he dose. There is and has been a problem for a long time, and he has solved it, the opposition never did. The resources saved will be diverted to attempt to solving future problems. What is YOUR solution? America was built on the backs of slaves, do you want it to continue?

Then what is a solution to the U.S. agricultural industry that depends on illegals?

A migrant worker program that allows foreign workers a seasonal work visa issued only in American embassies or consulates overseas.

Obama's actions are crass and an affront to democracy. Democrats better hope they can get the illegal immigrants he has given amnesty to their quick and dirty citizenship and registered as Democrats soon. Should another Republican ever be elected president in the future he or she will be able to do some long pent up actions desired by conservatives. A Republican president can stop collecting certain kinds of taxes, unilaterally suspend affirmative action laws that discriminate based on race, implement private accounts in Social Security, eliminate regulations on business all without the need for the consent of both Houses of Congress.

Whatever action the Republicans take will require them to balance the demands of irate conservatives without alienating moderates, Hispanics and other voters.

Republicans will self-destruct on this issue because they haven't any self-control. The right-wing nuts are foaming at the mouth.

Wolfpack Nov. 22, 2014 - 08:24AM JST A migrant worker program that allows foreign workers a seasonal work visa issued only in American embassies or consulates overseas.

This is not a solution for agricultural industry. How many companies want to go through adding expense and paperwork issue to process? Sure the H-2A temporary foreign agricultural worker program was created. Problem is, under the law, before the U.S. Immigration Services can approve an employer's petition for such workers, the employer must file an application with the Department stating that there are not sufficient workers who are able, willing, qualified and available, and that the employment of aliens will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. The process was originally straight-forward but over time has grown cumbersome in paperwork and legal details. Even if it becomes a law, few agricultural companies will follow through with this mess.

Republicans will self-destruct on this issue because they haven't any self-control. The right-wing nuts are foaming at the mouth.

Sadly and much to the disappointment of the Dems and libs, the Repubs are NOT going to fall for that trap again. They know what's at stake and they know he's trying to bait them. He has NO control over the agenda. This time there won't be a shut down or an impeachment. But there are other ways to make things difficult for this president. At this rate, the GOP only has to watch the Dems self-destruct and that's what's happening now.

This will clearly hurt honest illegals if they attain legal status. Now they can make several hundred dollars a week landscaping in my area. They will not get a raise becoming legal but will be expected to pay taxes which will reduce income dramatically. Though they can enroll into Obamacare....but those deductibles may be cost prohibitive.

The Chinese intern working for the company where I work has a lesser chance for an H1B visa now I would venture to say. And the Black youth unemployment rate will only rise even further.

Thank you Mr. Obama.

Oh, and will produce costs rise? They would have to unless the second wave of Illegals take those low pay positions.

The right-wing nuts are foaming at the mouth.

Millions of Americans 'are foaming at the mouth' about what Obama has done. I suspect that there are many Democrats that are not comfortable with what the President has done. This is a precedent in the accumulation of executive power that will haunt America from now on. Who knows what future unintended consequences will arise from this. Obama stated in public over two dozen times that he did not have the power to do what he did. So Obama himself has said that this action is not Constitutional. The American system of government depends upon the decency of it's Presidents to follow prescribed processes because of the immense power invested in their office. Obama's actions will certainly aid his political parties electoral fortunes. But the costs to be paid for this usurpation of power will do great damage to the country.

The GOP position (not only here, but in general) seems to be, "Because our party is dysfunctional, no progress can be made in Washington." Note that, among frenzied calls for impeachment or shutdown or lawsuits, barely a peep is heard about legislation.

So sad.

@sfjp33:

The U.S prison system is full of people who can be put to work to replace them, that's who. Call it "Hard Labor".

Obama’s measure, which will make nearly half of those living the U.S. illegally eligible for work permits, has been criticized by Republicans as an amnesty for lawbreakers and abuse of presidential powers.

Obama defends the term amnesty. How so, he has rewarded lawlessness.

Obama, speaking at a Las Vegas high school Friday, said he took steps on his own to fix the immigration system because it’s been “broken” for a long time and “everybody knows it.”

Yes, the system is broken and still is Nothing fixed, perhaps even broken further! What about the next wave of lawbreakers entering USA? How shall they be handled?

The president announced new deportation priorities that would compel law enforcement to focus its efforts on tracking down serious criminals and people who have recently crossed the border, while specifically placing a low priority on those who have been in the United States for more than 10 years.

This is broken and will not change as we've seen in the past several years. Especially highlighted recently were the children crossing the border. They all crossed they were all placed throughout the nation.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto applauded Obama’s measures, calling them “an act of justice that values the great contributions of millions of Mexicans to the development” of the United States. I ask, what about all the trouble the Mexicans have caused in the United States? I will leave alone the trouble caused within Mexico to US citizens!

Obama's immigration changes upset Republican plans

What he has done hasn't only angered the Republicans, it has also angered many Americans who are Independent. His actions have ensured that the DNC will not take the White House for a long time to come. I doubt that the DNC will be able to take back the House or Senate either. The US has gone from a purple nation to a Red nation all thanks to him.

Instead of allowing the process to take it's course President Obama decided to act as an Emperor. His actions will embolden the next President to take it a step further and further and further. I just hope that the damage he has caused to our Constitution can be fixed in the next 10 years.

WolfpackNov. 22, 2014 - 09:00AM JST Millions of Americans 'are foaming at the mouth' about what Obama has done.

Nailed it, the American people will make their anger felt come next Presidential election. I suspect that the GOP will continue to control both Houses and take the White House. After that the President can reverse this abusive action.

"Party leaders warn that could lead to a government shutdown."

The GOP-Tea's psychotic threats are pricey tantrums Americans can ill afford

The government shutdown strips $24 billion out of the United States economy - Bloomberg News

"Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services yesterday said the shutdown has shaved at least 0.6 percent off of fourth-quarter 2013 gross domestic product growth, or taken $24 billion out of the economy."

Having already destroyed the American dream with a decade of War on Terror profit, the GOP-Tea is certain that slashing America's economic jugular vein is good medicine as a temper tantrum. Americans must grow weary of the infamous "Disaster Capitalism" practiced by the deranged fanatics controlling the Grand Ole Party, and their Frankenstein Tea-bots.

"Whatever action the Republicans take will require them to balance the demands of irate conservatives without alienating moderates, Hispanics and other voters." - article

Whatever action the Republicans take it will require senseless harm to millions of Americans at the cost of billions to achieve nothing.

Pathological/Psychotic:

The GOP record of grotesque failures reaches back to Reagan and comes full circle as the GOP-Tea now returns to their sick lapping up visions of torment to thrust into the face of their imagined demons.

The government shutdown strips $24 billion out of the United States economy - Bloomberg News

"Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services yesterday said the shutdown has shaved at least 0.6 percent off of fourth-quarter 2013 gross domestic product growth, or taken $24 billion out of the economy."

I wonder if the costs of security and added security, the erection of boundaries, and the stay home with pay were factored into that "stripped $24B" Careful how you quote statistics...source and motivation can skew results. If you listened to the Prez speech on Amnesty yesterday it was full of them!

The GOP-Tea's psychotic threats are pricey tantrums Americans can ill afford

bass says:

there are other ways to make things difficult for this president

Like others have noted, the GOP has no plan other than to obstruct.

Obamas policy did nothing but hurt minorities! He is a black gangster disciple from Chicago!

Let's see know, Obama enthusiastically supported the Arab Spring! Controvercial and clearly a mistake.

Obama and his loyal following passed the ACA. Controversial, broken and full of surprises.

He now imposed a mass pardon on law breaking foreign nationals. Again controversial, still broken, and numerous hidden surprises.

What I fear is 2016. What will this anti-American president do to damage the nation before leaving the office?

I have to admit I've got a feeling of schadenfreude watching all the Republicans freaking out because Obama finally said screw it to trying to play bipartisan with them, and actually made a bold move.

Your dear leader Obama, should work with the coming new congress in passing a comprehensive immigration reform. If they will not do anything about it, the Republican lawmakers will bear the burden of negligence in 2016 election. The legislative branch has responsibility to pass the bill, and not the other way around; especially with this magnitude. There are law existed in handling illegal immigrants as any other countries. Emperor Obama can't just rewrite the law and not enforcing the existing one. Latinos should not count on executive branch to solve this problem, rather working with Congress to pass a bill to the president. Illegal immigrants broke the law in the first place and forcing the government to change the law to their benefits? It will not happen in Japan and most part of the world, except an emotional banana republic somewhere. Law dictates the integrity of a nation, and only dictators and rogue leaders with blind followers who changing law to their conveniences. What happen if Republican take control the W.H in 2016, scary isn't it Obamabots?

It SHOULD tick off ANYONE that actually has a JOB & PAYS TAXES. Anyone that DOESN'T couldn't care LESS. I no longer affiliate myself with ANY particular " Party " and it sure pisses ME off when I see illegal alians collecting MY tax money or services that they paid NOTHING FOR! Try that in JAPAN!

The fact of the matter is the illegals are going to get to remain here. The people who have been playing by the rules, they're waiting some place else. The back of the line for them starts in some another country. But the people who decided to simply ignore the law, the back of the line starts here with work permits, with access to a whole range of public benefits and services that the American public is all going to be paying for. That's amnesty whether the President wants to admit it or not.

The president had a change of heart during his occupation. He was against an amnesty initially and now we have this mess. Just wait until they bring more family to the US. This is an implosion in the making.

The economy is still floundering and this! Another potential drain of revenue.

Obamacare in a floundering economy and a mess. And thanks to Gruber to enlighten more of the blinded ones of the scam it is.

Yes, the fed does have a printing press but this is not the ideal revenue generator Mr. Obama!

bass4funk: Doesn't matter what you desire to believe, the Republicans already HAVE fallen for the trap, hook, line, and sinker. The years of saying 'no' to anything and everything introduced by a Dem. SOLELY for that reason and that gave them the Senate this month is the same thing that is now destroying the party, again, from within. This has Boehner and other GOP members literally crapping their pants because ANYTHING they do will bite them in the behind. Insert language to try and keep Obama from passing the legislation will result in a shutdown. Trying to sue him or impeach him will result in a lengthy process that will not only make them look bad, but won't come into effect before he can pass the laws. Making laws against him can be vetoed, and all the while the more central leaning GOP members are having new bum-holes torn into them by the Tea Party members, who are becoming more mental than ever. They had chances to introduce their own ideas up to now, but it was always just "no" and "it's our way or the highway". Now they are getting it back and they do NOT like it. As such it's also funny to see people like yourself and other Republicans saying, SUDDENLY, after years of "no" and bipartisan bickering and filibustering, "We want to work together! It's time for an end to bipartisan politics!" etc. And yet even in your own party you guys can't agree on anything.

Hahahaha... classic on all levels.

"Timing is everything, it is often said. So, why didn't Obama make this announcement (as well as sending more troops to Iraq) BEFORE the election? It's obviously because the PEOPLE (whom he theoretically represents) would have sent an even clearer anti-Democrat (not necessarily pro-Repulican) message, and the result would have been an even worse drubbing for the donkey party.

Coincidentally, a congressional committee dominated by Republicans put the final nail in the coffin of Benghazi! with the release of their report today, and so it goes to join all of the other GOP pseudo-scandals down the memory hole. (Whatever happened to ISIS terrorists smuggling Ebola across the border? - oh, sorry that is SO three weeks ago.)

Now, if GOPers are so confident that the GOP will win the presidency in 2016, there is no need to worry about Obama's executive action - it will expire in 2017, so any hypothetical GOP president doesn't even need to seem cruel by yanking away stability from millions of law-abiding residents; he (and it would be a "he") just needs to wait out the clock a half-year following inauguration.

These apoplectic protestations by Republicans reveal their fear more than anything.

From the AP.....

A look at his statements and how they compare with the facts: OBAMA: "It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive - only Congress can do that. All we're saying is we're not going to deport you." THE FACTS: He's saying, and doing, more than that. The changes also will make those covered eligible for work permits, allowing them to be employed in the country legally and compete with citizens and legal residents for better-paying jobs.

OBAMA: "Although this summer, there was a brief spike in unaccompanied children being apprehended at our border, the number of such children is now actually lower than it's been in nearly two years." THE FACTS: The numbers certainly surged this year, but it was more than a "brief spike." The number of unaccompanied children apprehended at the border has been on the rise since the 2011 budget year. That year about 16,000 children were found crossing the border alone. In 2012, the Border Patrol reported more than 24,000 children, followed by more than 38,800 in 2013. In the last budget year, more than 68,361 children were apprehended.

OBAMA: "Overall, the number of people trying to cross our border illegally is at its lowest level since the 1970s. Those are the facts." THE FACTS: Indeed, in the 2014 budget year the Border Patrol made 486,651 arrests of border crossers, among the fewest since the early 1970s. But border arrests have been on the rise since 2011. The decline in crossings is not purely, or perhaps even primarily, due to the Obama administration. The deep economic recession early in his presidency and the shaky aftermath made the U.S. a less attractive place to come for work. The increase in arrests since 2011 also can be traced in part to the economy — as the recovery improved, more people came in search of opportunity.

OBAMA: "When I took office, I committed to fixing this broken immigration system. And I began by doing what I could to secure our borders." THE FACTS: He overlooked the fact that he promised as a candidate for president in 2008 to have an immigration bill during his first year in office and move forward on it quickly. He never kept that promise to the Latino community.

One fact is clear. Obama is a liar to the American public. Gruber-gate is also supporting my claim also.

To those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill

The House already passed a bill regarding border security. The democrat-controlled Senate wasn't interested. It's one of the 437 passed bills still sitting on Harry's desk.

"It SHOULD tick off ANYONE that actually has a JOB & PAYS TAXES. Anyone that DOESN'T couldn't care LESS. I no longer affiliate myself with ANY particular " Party " and it sure pisses ME off when I see illegal alians collecting MY tax money or services that they paid NOTHING FOR!"

Do you realize that these millions of people will now being taxes on their income?

@paulinUSA-Do you realize that these millions of people will now being taxes on their income?

As I pointed out in a previous post they likely will not! They will not take a pay cut (taxes) to pay taxes. Landscapers make $14-$16 an hour. For a fact the owners will not raise their wages. If those same $14-$16 an hour illegals now pay taxes the realized wage is more like $10-$11 an hour after taxes. Either ENTITLEMENTS will supplement them or they will choose to work off the books and again the "E" word again can kick in.

Do you realize that these millions of people will now being taxes on their income?

Do you realize that these millions of people receive low wages and will be eligible for the earned income tax credit? So when they file their tax form they will in turn receive a check from the government paid for mostly by the 53% of the working class and up who actually pay taxes in the US. They will be rewarded with cash for breaking the law. Not to mention the fact that those idiots that applied legally for admittance into the country will still be sitting at home fuming about the injustice of it all. What would you do if you were one of the millions in their position? No matter what anyone tells you, the answer to that is pretty clear.

Executive decree like this is an affront to democracy and will only make the system more broken, more complex, and more unfair.

@plastic

Like others have noted, the GOP has no plan other than to obstruct.

That is exactly what the voters who care about democracy have voted them into the majority in both the House and Senate expect them to do. You should expect nothing different. I encourage them to oppose Obamaism just as hard as Pelosi and Harry Reid opposed W. I just hope that they will be as cunning and clever as they were in going about it. There is no talk of impeachment or government shutdowns this time (except from Dems) so I have some hope. They should use every lever of power they have to thwart every piece of Obama's ideologically driven Left wing agenda.

@Laguna

These apoplectic protestations by Republicans reveal their fear more than anything.

I am not a Republican but I admit that I fear that American democracy is in more trouble now than at any time since the Civil War (and no I am not saying there will be a war). But it is easy to see that America is more divided now than since that time that the Democrat party attempted to push the expansion of slavery on a quickly growing union of states.

The fact of the matter is the illegals are going to get to remain here. Why? Because it is too hard to enforce the law? I used to agree with this but have changed my mind about it. At some point immigration law will have to be enforced or there isn't any immigration law at all. Amnesty failed in 1986 and I see no reason to believe it will not fail again now that Obama has granted executive amnesty in 2014. Enforce border controls and chip away at those living in the country illegally until the situation is under control. Merely granting amnesty and waiting 20 years and doing it all over again is stupid public policy and makes a mockery of law. If that is the route the country wants to go then it would be better to just have open borders. At least other laws would still command some respect. No one in America takes any law that they perceive they can get away with seriously anymore. Is that the kind of society Americans want?

*Texas A&M AggieNOV. 22, 2014 - 10:58PM JST To those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill

The House already passed a bill regarding border security. The democrat-controlled Senate wasn't interested. It's one of the 437 passed bills still sitting on Harry's desk.*

Those who choose to be led do not realize the reality. Mainstream media would like nothing better than to have a world of drones.

The senate passed a bipartisan immigration reform bill. Boehner refused to vote on it.

Repiblicans have no comprehensive plan. End of story.

Obama is making himself for look good and smart. I don't know whether it's his own philosophy of democracy or American's democracy which he lectures in third world countries where he recently toured.

Repiblicans have no comprehensive plan. End of story.

Republicans do not want to pass ''comprehensive'' reform that includes amnesty. It failed the last time it was tried, it will fail again. End of story.

You just want to import cheap labor for big corporations to exploit at the expense of poor and unemployed American citizens.

Wolfpack

They should use every lever of power they have to thwart every piece of Obama's ideologically driven Left wing agenda.

You're proving that the fringe right is driven by paranoid outrage that has virtually no basis in reality.

In your historically ignorant worldview the policies of Eisenhower should be considered communist, and those of Reagan socialist.

Obama's immigration changes upset Republican plans? What plans? This article mentions no plans because the republicans have no plans, other than to block Obama.

Repiblicans have no comprehensive plan. End of story.

Yes, and Democrats, especially the president could care less about the law, laws in place, the constitution and the voters. End of story.