On Thursday November 20, 2014 President Obama announced sweeping changes to the immigration policy of the United States. He did this through an Executive Order. What do you think of President Obama's new policy and his means of carrying it out?
The article made some interesting points as to the timing of Obama's executive order. I found it intriguing how in the past Obama has "emphasized the limits of his powers" and has always turned the spotlight back around on to congress and how they need to act. However, now with the executive order he is extending his power passed what he had previously described as being limited. I think that his new form of taking action is not only being used as a way to move forward on the issue of illegal immigration but also as a way to force congress to move forward with him. Now that the republicans have taken control over congress they must show the country that they can act. Gridlocking the government can no longer be a way for them to get around difficult issues. Obama knows this and that is why he has changed his way of approaching immigration and issued an executive order. As the article states when referring to the republicans, "Some fear standing in the way of the president's actions will hurt them politically". However, still other republicans such as John Cornyn continue to declare that they will fight Obama on the legality of his actions. I believe that republicans will not be able to win that fight due to the fact that past president's have taken similar actions when dealing with immigration. Obama's executive order might have been just what was needed in order for the government to move forward and make progress on immigration.
I agree with you completely. Experts say that our current congress is the most inefficient in American history, so it is no surprise that Obama has gotten irritated with a gridlocked congress. Although his actions were surprising and very bold, the illegal immigration problem has grown worse and worse and if he didn't do something then the problem would've just increased even more. Personally, I think that the President's actions were exactly what was necessary to allow legal work and to present a larger group of immigrants access to potential citizenship and protection.
The article made some interesting points as to the timing of Obama's executive order. I found it intriguing how in the past Obama has "emphasized the limits of his powers" and has always turned the spotlight back around on to congress and how they need to act. However, now with the executive order he is extending his power passed what he had previously described as being limited. I think that his new form of taking action is not only being used as a way to move forward on the issue of illegal immigration but also as a way to force congress to move forward with him. Now that the republicans have taken control over congress they must show the country that they can act. Gridlocking the government can no longer be a way for them to get around difficult issues. Obama knows this and that is why he has changed his way of approaching immigration and issued an executive order. As the article states when referring to the republicans, "Some fear standing in the way of the president's actions will hurt them politically". However, still other republicans such as John Cornyn continue to declare that they will fight Obama on the legality of his actions. I believe that republicans will not be able to win that fight due to the fact that past president's have taken similar actions when dealing with immigration. Obama's executive order might have been just what was needed in order for the government to move forward and make progress on immigration.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely. Experts say that our current congress is the most inefficient in American history, so it is no surprise that Obama has gotten irritated with a gridlocked congress. Although his actions were surprising and very bold, the illegal immigration problem has grown worse and worse and if he didn't do something then the problem would've just increased even more. Personally, I think that the President's actions were exactly what was necessary to allow legal work and to present a larger group of immigrants access to potential citizenship and protection.
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