Waiting for Genuine Immigration Reform
The president's decision to act in lieu of Congress has ignited a political firestorm that is sweeping across the country.
Online, March 17, 2015 (Newswire.com) - President Obama made headlines last fall when he signaled his intention to issue a series of Executive Actions aimed at shielding illegal immigrants from deportation. The president's decision to act in lieu of Congress has ignited a political firestorm that is sweeping across the country. This past week, House Speaker John Boehner has announced that he is planning to take legal action in an effort to counter the president's executive actions on immigration.
"11 million undocumented aliens are living within the United States. Many of these are children of men and women who entered the US either illegally, or by overstaying legitimate visas. While both sides want to make it seem like this is a new problem that requires urgent attention, it's simply not. Indeed, immigration reform is a political football that both sides have kicked since the Bracero Program of the '40's," remarked Ronald Shapiro, an immigration lawyer in Chicago.
Boehner's intention to sue the president is an attempt to increase legal pressure on the White House ahead of discussions over the budget which are set to begin shortly. Given the fact that House Republicans have already filed suit against the president over the ACA, it is likely that House Republicans will pass a resolution this month authorizing Boehner to proceed with legal action on the issue of immigration.
"Caught in the middle of the political wrangling taking place in Washington are families. People who work hard, go to school, and have in many cases been in this country since the day they were born. The men, women, and children president Obama's executive actions are designed to help are as American as you or me," Shapiro stated.
While legal action is being discussed in Washington this week, it's not the only option the House can pursue in order to block the Executive Actions from being enforced. For instance, they were able to add and pass an amendment to the DHS funding package that ended funding for the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy that president Obama planned to expand.
"Regardless of which side wins the political fight, immigrants lose. It's time both sides work together for genuine immigration reform instead of punting it back and forth while their future hangs in the balance," Shapiro, an experienced immigration lawyer in Chicago, adamantly argues.