It just makes sense.

Bravo!

More executive action please.

The minimum wage and universal healthcare too?

Not to mention a jobs program.........

His discretion as the chief executive in setting priorities for federal law enforcement allows him to address immigration.

the anti trust laws?

I hope they scrounge up every little ounce of courage in their rat-like selves and declare, loudly and arrogantly, their intention to reverse the 2012 election.

His approval numbers will skyrocket, just like Clinton's did, and we'll have a little history lesson about the Bush regime's crimes that the GOP didn't even think worthy of Congressional hearings let alone impeachment investigations.

Obama's immigration order. The impeachment would have to be based on claiming that he failed to enforce immigration law. That would be a stretch in terms of the Constitution's "high crimes and misdemeanors" standard. As chief executive, Obama could in principle pardon immigrants who have entered the country illegally.

In which case they're fucked anyway, because America is no longer terrified of immigration.

Whether it helps them or Democrats is up for grabs, but it will help Democrats with the Latino vote.

people for too long, it is only right to get them out of the shadows and treat them fairly. That said, many Americans have had their wages effected by this labor pool and perhaps we can help them with retraining and such. I want all people to be able to live a safe comfortable life.

and treat them fairly." I also agree with you that addressing the impact on employment for citizens is crucial.

sometimes those points get lost in the shuffle.

immigrate illegally compete for jobs with citizens appears to be surprisingly small. Also, because of the indirect benefits illegal immigration has for the economy, illegal immigration probably creates jobs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/magazine/do-illegal-immigrants-actually-hurt-the-us-economy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

most of the trades are dominated by Hispanics and that is also the case in the factories. Are they all illegal immigrants? I can not say, but I have had work done on my home and most of the workers don't speak English.

Please don't think I'm being a racist or anything I'm just going by what I see. I used be a Carpenter hanging doors and such and I treat all workers fairly. I buy them lunch, always offer water and such, since when this was done for me it made me feel appreciated, not like a servant.

I have worked in East Hampton and in many "rich" neighborhoods and sad to say those folks would not offer anything and even if I asked to use a bathroom I was given the stink eye.

It was always the middle class and elderly people that treated me well, so I do what I can for all the workers who come to my home, I don't care about their legal status. I hope I made my point clear since I don't want another label added to my list.

Jobs anymore. Carpenters, landscapers, bathroom cleaners, etc... I highly doubt these type of workers who happen all to be immigrants are taking these jobs away from Americans.

Now what Americans want are behind the desk jobs.. I can assure you that in my line of work where I have posted jobs for tile installers for MONTHS not ONE "AMERICAN" applied.

it may be true or it may be the contractor's who look to cut the workers down so their profits margins rise. All I know I did that work that no American will do. Until I got injured on the job and the contractor would not give his WC info and fought tooth and nail to deny me my benefits. By the way I've had two back operations and now five herniated discs and two levels of stenosis in that area I did not injure that day. The carrier CNA, spied on me until I could not take anymore and settled my case. Just Sayin"

sky high here and many so called scabs can not afford to live here anymore so that may be a part of the problem also.

Like the jobs that big companies are giving to supposedly professionals from other countries because we don't have professionals here. - which is not true- Americans are graduating from college at a higher rate now than ever before, and are actively looking for jobs- and a lot of these jobs are bring lost to Peiple from India who are being transferred here with H1B visas.

The H1B visas must be eliminated.

with what you wrote. Greed and money is a factor in both problems I feel. The workers, be it those who come here for a better life or those who have H1B visas are pawns to be used by corporations and greedy people who take advantage of those who must live in the shadows. Thank you very much for the replies, it is very difficult subject to discuss.

There will be a future GOP President, will you feel the same way when they decide they will tell the attorney general to not enforce laws against LGBT discrimination for example? Or telling not enforcing the contraceptive provision of ACA?
Or when a GOP President tells the feds not to enforce federal gun laws?

It will go both ways, and will set precedence. So while we may love this President flexing his power, will we feel the same way next time?

Although you may not believe a thing Paul Ryan has to say (with good reason) he stated that the GOP did have a comprehensive immigration bill, that would have passed in a bipartisan manner last session. But when President Obama started changing the ACA through Executive orders the support dropped right off. The GOP realized that if their immigration bill was signed, President Obama would interpret it in whatever way he wants.

We complained about Bush's EOs, yet President Obama (who complained the loudest) now has taken them to a new level.

I agree with President Obama most of the time, but I also respect the three branches of government more, and in my opinion no President is allowed to make new laws, which is what he is doing, whether you agree with the law or not.

in this specific case, he is exercising his genuine authority to discretion in the enforcement of the law. I agree with you that it sets a somewhat dangerous precedent, and so there is a real trade-off here. I respect your opinion that the benefits are not worth the risks, but I guess I feel strongly that here the benefits are so great that they are worth the risk. The last Republican president had no respect for the law and I doubt that the next one is likely to be influenced by Obama's behavior on the immigration issue. And even if I am wrong about that, I think the benefits of what Obama plans to do are apt to far outweigh the cost.

Sorry I posted and ran, I got called out of town unexpectedly.
I am hoping you are right. I do not question the authority of the executive order, I just question the almost absolute power it gives one branch of government. I also truly fear a future GOP President using all of these orders as precedence to "interpret" laws in the ways they may see fit. I was never happy (or quiet about it) when Bush decided he was the "dictator", and I can't change my mind now.
I really don't want someone "interpreting", or selectively enforcing gun laws, or abortion laws.
The only good part about doing it now is that it will be a forgotten issue by the 2016 election, kind of like the Government shutdown was never brought up during this one.

I'll complain about the contents of the Executive Orders by a Republican president, but I'll never complain about the issuance of executive orders.

somewhere else.

For the Republicans to teabag Latinos with even greater fervor for a few more years and wreck any hope of winning the demographic or else namby pamby around some more and end up with a split or actually losing our advantage.

would have us hiding down in a hole, doing what we know to be wrong while shooting ourselves in the foot going forward over the coming several decades.

Winning doesn't come from playing not to lose but more importantly the risk adverse need to process that just because you are on the lowest reward situation it doesn't mean you have selected the least risk.

Further, there has to be acceptance of the fact that there is no permanent majority and no winning everytime. It is about what you do with the opportunities you have.

Stop trying to make the sun stay up forever and focus on making hay while it shines, that's the real game and you'll find you have opportunities enough to get what is needed and put up for the future as well.

President in 2016. President Bush received 45 percent of the Hispanic vote at least. I would not put a guarantee on voting with any demographic.

Either way you aren't going to keep it by just counting on it, better earn those votes and sure as shit protect the votes you do have.

Insane the republicans feel

Their blood, sweat and tears should be rewarded. I think they are amongst some of the most exploited alongside the butcher plants, working in consistently dangerous conditions for truly despicable $$

So I'm worried....

having a way to permanently legalize your situation.

Undocumented immigrants were more than willing to get "back of the line" and pay fines if that meant getting a green card, and eventually, citizenship.

Obama's executive order will only grant temporary work permits (note the word temporary). There's not a path to citizenship. That makes them second class "citizens" unable to vote, unable to make long term plans because they have to keep hoping and praying the permit is renewed year after year, always wondering how long will they be allowed to stay.

The cost of renewing the work permit every year, or year an a half will add up and be much higher than any fine.

Sure, it's better than nothing, but far from "awesome".

That's why I said it was better than some immigration reforms if the next President doesn't cancel it. I do think that fines are especially bad because they punish people for behavior that isn't morally wrong. It's not just the money. It's the injustice of being punished that is offensive.

after eight, ten twenty and more years people are desperate to feel they are home, meaning that they have full rights, and they are not afraid to be thrown out.

Yes, they realize is unjust and offensive, but if that's the way to get a Green Card, they will take it. They can't afford to be offended