President Obama: executive orders on immigration ‘will be taking place between the November elections and the end of the year’

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President Obama addressed the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 37th Annual Awards Gala this week. Read the President’s full remarks here (excerpts):

Obama[T]he point I want to make is the progress we’ve made has been hard, sometimes it’s been slower than we want, but that progress has been steady and it has been real.  We have done big things together, and we’re going to do more.  And tonight, I want to make something clear:  Fixing our broken immigration system is one more, big thing that we have to do and that we will do.  (Applause.)

Now, I know there’s deep frustration in many communities around the country right now.  And I understand that frustration because I share it.  I know the pain of families torn apart because we live with a system that’s broken.  But if anybody wants to know where my heart is or whether I want to have this fight, let me put those questions to rest right now.  I am not going to give up this fight until it gets done.  (Applause.)

[T]he actions that we’ve taken so far are why more than 600,000 young people can live and work without fear of deportation.  (Applause.)  That’s because of the actions I took and the administration took.  (Applause.)

Because of the coalition that we built together, business and labor, faith and law enforcement, Democrats and Republicans — created a bipartisan bill and got it through the Senate last year.  When states like Alabama and Arizona passed some of the harshest immigration laws in history, my Attorney General took them on in court and we won.  (Applause.)

So you know what we’ve done together.  You know that we’ve done it despite what is possibly the most uncooperative House of Representatives in history.  (Applause.)  If House Republicans brought the Senate bill up for a vote today, it would pass today; I would sign it today.  And they know it.  (Applause.)  But instead, they’ve been sitting on it for more than a year.  They voted to strip DREAMers of new protections and make them eligible for deportation — not once, but twice they voted that way.

And this summer, when a wave of unaccompanied minors crossed part of our southwest border, my administration matched compassion for kids with a firm message to families.  Today, fewer parents are sending their children on that perilous journey than they were at this time last year, and we’re working to give more kids the chance to apply for asylum in their home countries and avoid that journey altogether.  (Applause.)

But while we worked to deal with an urgent humanitarian problem, while we actually did something about the problem, Republicans exploited the situation for political gain.  And in June, as all this was going on, Speaker Boehner told me he would continue to block a vote on immigration reform for at least the remainder of this year.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  Now, don’t boo, vote.  (Applause.)

I’ve said before that if Congress failed to live up to its responsibilities to solve this problem, I would act to fix as much of our immigration system as I can on my own, and I meant what I said.  So this is not a question of if, but when.  Because the moment I act — and it will be taking place between the November elections and the end of the year — opponents of reform will roll out the same old scare tactics.  They’ll use whatever excuse they have to try to block any attempt at immigration reform at all.  And we have to be realistic:  For any action to last, for it to be effective and extend beyond my administration — because I’m only here two more years — we’re going to have to build more support of the American people so that it is sustainable and lasting.

And so I am going to be spending the next month, month and a half, six weeks, eight weeks — I’m going to be spending that time not just talking about what we’ve done for the economy, but explaining why immigration reform is good for our economy, and why it’s good for everybody.  (Applause.)  And when opponents are out there saying who knows what, I’m going to need you to have my back.  I’m going to need you to have my back.  I’m going to need you to keep putting pressure on Congress, because the fact of the matter is no matter how bold I am, nothing I can do will be as comprehensive or lasting as the Senate bill.  Anything I can do can be reversed by the next President.

To move beyond what I can do in a limited way, we are going to need legislation.  And if we want that legislation to happen sooner rather than later, then there’s one more thing I need you to do — I’ve got to have you talk to your constituents and your communities, and you’ve got to get them out to vote.  (Applause.)

You already know how powerful the Latino vote can be.  (Applause.)  In 2012, Latinos voted in record numbers.  The next day, even Sean Hannity changed his mind and decided immigration reform was a good idea.  (Laughter.)  But despite that record-breaking turnout, only 48 percent of Hispanic voters turned out. Fewer than half.  Fewer than half.  So the clearest path to change is to change that number.  Si, se puede … si votamos.  Yes we can … if we vote.  (Applause.)

This past week, the Obama administration announced that it is initiating a program to give refugee status to some young people from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador in response to the influx of unaccompanied minors arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Refugee plan set up for Central American minors. Also, Some Central Americans can now seek U.S. refugee status from home.

Roughly 2,600 refugee children will receive legal services over the next two years. Obama administration to provide $9 million in legal help to undocumented children.

And the Obama administration urged the court to reject Gov. Jan Brewer’s appeal of a ruling that blocks the state from denying driver’s licenses to young immigrants who have avoided deportation under a change ordered by the president. Administration urges rejection of Brewer’s appeal.

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41 thoughts on “President Obama: executive orders on immigration ‘will be taking place between the November elections and the end of the year’”

    • Thank you! That article really did make me feel better. Perhaps Obamacare is not the disaster it has appeared to be. Believe it or not, I may be a Republican, but I do believe that health care is something that should be available to every citizen.

      • well, at least you believe that healthcare should be for all. So much to refute with the rest of your “disappointments” though…All of them are wrong. Factually wrong.

        • I suspect we also agree about same sex marriage. The recent events in that arena surprised me given the makeup of the Supreme Court, but the effect of their action was the correct one. The time has come to update the definition of marriage to include same sex couples.

          I also believe it is time to legalize marijuana. I don’t use it myself, but continuing to criminilize its’ use is stupid. Someone here mentioned legalizing it and using the taxes to help fund education, which sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

          Anyway, it has been a pleasure exchanging perspectives. Even if we don’t agree on most issues, it is always enjoyable chatting with someone who doesn’t mistake name calling, profanity and screaming for discussion.

          • Don’t look now, Steve…but you’re not a Republican any more…they would disown you for these “liberal” ideas! What you are is a Blue Dog Democrat…plain and simple. We will speak again 🙂 Thanks for the good conversation. ( I can swear like a sailor…no kidding…but the conversation never warranted any of that. Don’t be surprised though 🙂

  2. I would like to know the issues that have disappointed so that I can reply more specifically . Thanks

    • I apologize for the late response, but I had to fly on business, which I hate, and then spend the day in long meetings with a supplier who isn’t measuring up. Bwteen the long flight and the meetings I am really tired. In case you are wondering, my supplier is in Florida because, as is the case with all my supplier, I buy American and keep the jobs at home. And many of those jobs are Union jobs.

      But I will tell you my GREATEST disappointment right now and then will provide you a list of other disappointment tomorrow. I hope that is okay with you.

      The thing I am MOST disappointed about is Obamacare. When it passed I was skeptical, but since it was the new law of the land, I thought “Okay, let’s hope it works and we can actually get everyone insured at reasonable prices.” I WANTED it to work. I didn’t want my Country to fail at such an important project. I actually convinced myself it was possible based on what the Administration was telling us. Unfortunately, here we are two years later and thousands have actually lost their insurance, millions can’t afford their insurance and millions more don’t have insurance. What happened to the promises?

      And when you judge it’s success, you can’t do it by counting a made up number that managed to call in on a website and sign up. That wasn’t what was discussed when the Program was being pitched to the American people. The same applies to the poor showing at the State level where the States elected to control the process of signing up.

      Anyway, that is my greatest disappointment. Talk to you tomorrow!

    • I have had some real problems sleeping all night, and I have to catch my plane back home in a few hours, so I thought I would go ahead and respond to you about my disappointments with Obama. I am going to abbreviate some of the disappointments because the list is rather long and I don’t want to eat up a lot of band width. If I don’t give you enough information, just let me know. These are things about which President Obama has disappointed me:

      1 – He has abdicated his responsibility to enforce the laws of the United States against illegal immigration.

      2 – He didn’t heal our racial divisions. In fact they seem to have worsened.

      3 – He didn’t keep the NSA from spying.

      4 – He didn’t rein in the drones.

      5 – He hasn’t reduced poverty.

      6 – He hasn’t reducing income inequality.

      7 – He mishandled our relation with both Russia and China.

      8 – He failed to manage a new beginning with the Arab world. (This one I am not blaming Obama entirely for, but he is the President)

      9 – He failed to build better relations with our allies.

      10 – He failed to Put an end to the type of politics that “breeds division and conflict and cynicism.” (The Republicans have done their share to disrupt this, but Obama’s words rarely were conciliatory)

      11 – He failed to have transparency in his Administration.

      12 – Despite his promise not do so, he hired lobbyists to work in his administration.

      13 – He failed to even try to seek public financing in the general election.

      14 – Second only to Obamacare, he kept Eric Holder on as Attorney General long past the point where it was obvious he was corrupt. And his Civil Rights Division has not investigated nor prosecuted a single black person since he came to office; not even when Black Panthers in Philadelphia were filmed by 11 different news agencies carrying clubs and turning away white voters at polling places.

      15 – He ordered the border patrol not to arrest most illegal immigrants entering the country.

      16 – He stopped deportation proceedings against thousands of people in this country illegally.

      17 – He is in effect instituting the so-called “dream act” bypassing the Congress of the United States which has sole authority over immigration matters.

      18 – The Obama administration was involved for months in getting legitimate and law-abiding gun store owners here in Arizona to supply weapons to straw buyers who the government knew would deliver them to the drug cartels in Mexico.

      19 – President Obama has ordered the Federal Communications Commission to adopt regulations giving the federal government control of the Internet and its contents, including providing Obama with a kill switch that gives him authority to shut down the Internet if he sees fit. This is in direct violation of a decision by the United States Supreme Court that the FCC has no Constitutional authority to control the Internet.

      That is a short list of disappointments.

      • Steve…yesterday you said that you respected my opinions and thoughts. That’s good. Now respect this, and I’m not even joking. This list is delusional and wrong on so many levels. Is this a joke? Really…is this a joke? You seem to have adopted every talking point or conspiracy theory and amalgamated them all together to gain your terribly wrong, factless views on our President. I don’t even know where to begin! Considering my computer is misbehaving, it might take me a good long time to share the facts with you..On that last one…all is not what it seems .

        http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/11/internet-phone-kill-switch-explained

        Honestly, what people lack are critical thinking skills. You seem to consciously or subconsciously, have a bias about the President, so if you hear a bad thing about what you have HEARD he might do, you have the bias already in place and you let yourself believe that these outrageous things COULD happen, rather than to consider the source and do your research. There are those that prey on people like you and depend on all of you to be easily manipulated and spread the lies for them. Seriously, you really need to do your homework, because this list is embarrassing. i can fact check every last one of them…and if I can do it, so can you! stop being a party to this ridiculous mess and think/do for yourself….if you thought about many of these for more than the few seconds it took to type this you’d hear how utterly effed up they sound. I’m not asking you to love everything he’s ever done, but I AM asking you to fact check everything, not be a follower and think for yourself, and not spread these lies that are easily debunked. I really thought that you were a more thoughtful and a deeper thinker than this bogus list of “disappointments” shows. Come on, Steve…this is embarrassing . Believing mess like this is how people vote against their own interests. Aim higher.

        • Well, I’m back from my trip and sat down to correspond with you. Thank you for the additional information of the internet kill switch. It was interesting and informative.

          You can put a real sting in your words when you get frustrated. I wasn’t joking about my disappointment in those items I listed and, despite your doubts, I have done research on them and found them generally true. Remember that we see things from two different directions. You judge Obama through rose colored glasses. He has the same philosophy that you have and you are pre-disposed to find favor in what he does. I have a very different philosophy and I have a more jaundiced (biased) view of what he does or doesn’t do.

          I will bet there is one big difference between us: I can find things Obama has done that I am pleased with. But I will bet you can’t find anything about Bush that you were pleased with. ;o)

  3. Yes…let me say one more thing. You are correct in saying that I believe that the Constitution is a living, breathing document. I absolutely do. 1792 is nothing like it is now in the 21st century. To the Founding Fathers, who were very wise, but human, I believe they understood this and took this fact into account when they wrote the Constitution. I believe that for the fact that we CAN take what they put to paper in the 1700’s and still have those principles stand today, in the 21st century, is a testament to their vision of just this very thing. They understood. even then, that the world would change and grow…and that the guidelines they set forth would be amended and grow to fit the changing country. We the people would make that happen. The fact that we CAN do this, and they DID envision this, is amazing and what has kept our country vibrant and moving forward and out of the same strife that other countries have experienced as some sought to progress and others sought to stay in the dark ages.
    To imply that people like myself can just willy nilly do whatever we want with the Constitution or, for that matter, that only people that feel the way that you do are correct, or knew somehow what those Founding Fathers wanted/expected from this document….is a little offensive. You have no way of knowing…I believe that they would only want America to grow and be strong and stand as a model for the world to want admire and aspire to. I think the countries of the world do…now.

    • And I believe about 35%-40% of the people believe as you do. I hold them no ill will. It is just the natural flow of the “bell curve”. I accept that as how it is, so I have to work hard to make sure the pendulum stays swung to the right as long as possible. And when it isn’t I work hard to bring it back. I am sure you can relate to that.

      As to whether or not people are “Illegal”, we will have to disagree.

      • so sorry to hear that you feel this way, I really do. A little bit of condescension in your comment, though trying hard to be respectful of another POV…clearly, you suffer from ODS ( Obama Derangement Syndrome) and some selective memory issues.

        Thankfully, more people think as I do on this issue. Clearly your thoughts on this issue have not evolved to where the majority of Americans reside now.

        http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2014/03/04/85102/immigration-polling-roundup-americans-of-all-political-stripes-want-congress-to-pass-immigration-reform/

        Thankfully, we will do this with or without you, and be a much better country for it.

        • First, let me assure that if I ever sound condescending to you, it is purely an accident and results from my feeble attempts at words. I never try to be condescending when carrying on a conversation with someone whose opinion I respect, and I respect your opinion. You are both intelligent and literate and I enjoy exchanges with you.

          I must admit the article was a surprise to me. Perhaps I am gehind the times on this issue. BUT I remain firmly convinced that only Congress has the authority to make the changes to our laws and the President the authority to enforce them.

          And I don’t hate President Obama, I just had high hopes for him. I didn’t vote for him, but once he was elected I thought, “All right, Mr. President, this is an historic moment, do us proud.” Since then, I have been disappointed about 90% of the time; but I don’t hate him. I just wish he hadn’t squandered such an opportunity.

          • I am not in a place where I can respond to this the way I would like (work!) If you don’t mind, I would like to respond later this afternoon. Check back. I have MUCH to say!

  5. What a bunch of limited vision comments here. President Obama is not cowardly, not sneaky, not unprincipled on this issue. He is PRAGMATIC and the pragmatic, logical person thinks things through, realizes what will work best, what is simply folly and follows a plan to optimize their actions. Thank goodness this is his nature – we’d be neck deep totally involved in multiple wars at this point.

    On CIR, if he were to grant any further immigration related actions at this time in the election cycle, it would only give fuel to the fire of hate and aggression stoked and tended by the GOP/Tea Party pants on fire crew who stand only for what they can do to keep America “pure” (as in their twisted view of it). Can you imagine the furor of the RW extremists and their attendant press and MSM over an action right now to extend granted status or give amnesty? Nothing of any import could be discussed as a political issue between now and the election while these shrill sheep would overwhelm all else with their bleating. Remember Benghazi?

    Our president is not a reactionary. He spends time analyzing all aspects of an issue and proceeds in the best way possible in order to maximize the positive impact of his actions. Americans should be grateful for his thoughtful approach to his leadership rather than finding fault with every breath taken.

    • I commend you! I really do! You have done an EXCELLENT job of rationalizing Obama’s actions on this. But what you call “pragmatism” is just another word for cowardice.

      It is “pragmatic” for a soldier to run from the battlefield rather than face the specter of being killed. It is “pragmatic” to ignore the drug dealer on your corner rather than get involved with chasing him off and risking your life. It is “pragmatic” for your child to lie to you rather than tell the truth and be punished for something he did. Pragmatism is found everywhere, but it is nearly alway an excuse for the doing the easy (cowardly) thing. There is no real cleverness involved, simply a desire to avoid pain by taking the easiest route.

      But you did a valiant job, Kat, and I was impressed. By the way, I really like your name.

    • You aren’t wrong in your comment regarding this President, however, we ARE having a conversation here. I don’t agree with certain things that are said, but certainly don’t want to shut the conversation down because someone here doesn’t think in lockstep with me! I leave that to the RWNJ’s…funny how some do the very thing they fault others for doing.

    • One thing you mentioned that I forgot to respond to is that Obama HAS kept us out many combat situations/small wars. In this, I am proud of him for standing his ground. Even now, with all the armchair warriors pressuring him to put soldiers in the field in Iraq and Syria to fight this new crop of terrorists, he has stood his ground and made only marginal efforts to placate them. I have cheered him every time he has done so. He has my complete support on this.

  6. I hope steve is right the latino community is upset with the stalling. I hope president Obama goes big and grants total amnesty.

    • It is very possible that, after the election when Obama can pretend to be courageous, he might just go the whole way and grant amnesty. That will create such a dog fight because he doesn’t have the authority to do so. I am certain that only Congress holds such authority. Not that I think that would keep him from trying after this next election; but if he could do it, you would think he would have done it already…except for the fact that he is a coward, of course.

      But once that election is passed, Obama can become a roaring lion of liberal ideas. He can hand out so many Executive Orders that it will take the next President years to undo the damage. The next President is already going to have to fire most of the Justice Department attorneys for their blatant racism and misuse of the power of their office. It will take months to restaff the Department with qualified Attorneys.
      Obama’s legacy is already being written and it isn’t pretty.

      • Why do you excuse congress from doing its job? The Senate CIR bill has been sitting in Boehner’s desk for over a year. If he brought it to a vote, it would pass. Instead, he’s wasting our time and tax dollars and people like you give him a gd pass!

        • I don’y excuse Congress from doing it’s job. I state that simply because Congress won’t do their job, that does not mean the President can step up and do it for them. It is called the Separation of Powers and it is clearly spelled out in the Constitution. That is where this President has done this Nation such harm by constantly violating that separation over and over and over. It is why history will judge him as a bad President. His willingness to try and usurp power give him the appearance of a tin horn dictator trying to seize power. I do believe that the next President will spend a great deal of time trying to unscrew the mess that Obama will leave behind.

          And as I always say, it is a shame because he had an opportunity for a GREAT Presidency; an Historic Presidency. As it is I suspect it will be a while before we see another black President.

          • This stupid RW tripe is no even worth of a conversation. You don’t even have to agree with me, you don’t even have to like this President if you don’t want to, but this…is BS. Plain and simple. He has done nothing of the sort.. The Constitutional law professor knows more about the Constitution than you ever will, so you surely shouldn’t presume to lecture about that. Your bigotry is showing.

          • For every Constitutional Law Professor that says he is okay in doing it, there is one who says he isn’t. I believe firmly that he isn’t and I can provide a slew of Constitutional Scholars who agree with me. And I am fairly certain you can find a slew of them who will agree with you.

            A big part of the problem is that liberals like yourself believe the Constitution is a living, breathing document that has to change with the times. If that is true then there is no point to having a Constitution because it changes willy-nilly with whatever fad comes along. There is a way to change the Constitution, but Democrats don’t want to use that mechanism.

    • Why do you comment on things that you don’t understand? Amnesty was NEVER the plan…that was Ronald Reagan.

      • Of course you say Amnesty was never the plan…it has been the touchstone than sets people of in opposition to ANY immigration plan. So, as a result the word “Amnesty” has been banned and a dozen other preferred phrases have been developed that mean amnesty without using the word.

        Amnesty is not THE plan, but it IS part of all the plans to achieve Comprehensive Immigration Reform since the start. You can’t have Comprehensive Immigration Reform without taking care of all the illegals who currently reside here.

        • Amnesty would be letting them be here free and clear with no accountability . That is NOT the case in this instance. They would be made to pay a fine, back taxes, learn English, and go to the back of the line in the quest to become a legal citizen. THAT is not amnesty! The only ones that consider that amnesty are the rapid nativist nut jobs. Oops!

          • No need to go “OOPS!”, though it was polite of you to do so. I have been called much worse here.

            I understand the arrangement that you described to avoid calling it amnesty. The problem is that history demonstrates that every goal listed will be watered down by either direct Regulatory action, or by the people charged with enforcing the standards. In the end, they will be waived through and the practical result will be amnesty. There has NEVER been a single program developed that has not, over time, been watered down to the point of uselessness. Democrats have a history of great ballyhoo about TOUGH standards for their program in order to sell them to them American people. Then once the Program is launched and funded, they look the other way as it degenerates into what they really wanted in the first place.

            Head Start, Welfare Reform, Section 8 Housing, all programs designed for a hand up that are now programs that carry generations forward with no effort to lift these people up. You can tell me until you are blue in the face about all the “tough standards” and I will have to laugh in your face because those those standards will disappear within 18 months. It is just amnesty with a lot of lipstick.

            I admire your honest and steadfast belief in what you are stating, but it is foolish to think it will happen as you believe.

  7. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113%3AS.744%3A

    Read this. This is the BIPARTISAN Senate Immigration bill that passed the Senate and was sent to John Boehner’s House where it is sitting on his desk collecting dust since June 27, 2013.

    http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/immigration-bill-2013-senate-passes-93530.html#ixzz3FEIqu01c

    The Senate on Thursday passed the most monumental overhaul of U.S. immigration laws in a generation, which would clear the way for millions of undocumented residents to have a chance at citizenship, attract workers from all over the world and devote unprecedented resources for security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

    The vote was 68-32. Fourteen Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with all Democrats in favor. Thursday’s vote now puts the onus of immigration reform on the Republican-led House, where leaders have been resistant to the Senate legislation.

    Read that last sentence again. Boehner’s Romper Room where the juvenile delinquents spend their time taking massive amounts of time off while taking taxpayer money for a hefty 6 figure income, all while doing ZERO work for the people that they work for ( that would be US!) THESE bought and paid for zoo animals are the reason we don’t have CIR! To pretend otherwise just shows your total ignorance of the facts.
    The President already has an incredible legacy and a historic Presidency, with more accomplishments for Americans than I can put here. The President is a far cry from a disappointment…what’s a real disappointment is people like yourself that know nothing of the reality and success’ of his terms, and do not understand, or care to understand. Stunning display of ignorance in 2 little paragraphs

    • I wasn’t quite certain to what I was supposed to respond here, so I will just take a shot.

      I have been well aware that the House has been the stumbling block to CIR. But there is no requirement in the Constitution that the House vote “Yea” on a bill simply because the Senate did so. Or vice versa. Frankly, I am glad that they ARE blocking the CIR legislation because I don’t like it. So it isn’t a matter of ignorance or stupidity, it is just a different perspective on the subject.

  8. The Presidents sneaky little plan to wait until after the election is semi-clever and completely political and will likely placate the Hispanic vote, but it is also something else: it is very cowardly. It demonstrates his fear, his duplicity and his inability to stand on principle.

    And it is a darned shame because he had an opportunity to create great American history. He’s a disappointment not only to most Americans, he is a disappointment to the world.

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