President Obama Takes Executive Action on Immigration
Read the guide to President Obama's executive action from the Washington Post and comment. Think about does the president have the legal authority to do this? What about his timing? Should he have waited for the new Congress in January?
Technically under the Constitution, Obama can issue an executive action if he feels he should do so. However, this executive action addresses an issue that Congress can not agree upon. Therefore, Obama can legally do so but I believe that his order is morally incorrect. People should be legally allowed to enter the US, not illegally. The timing of his action in this case does not matter. If he were to attempt to get the new Congress to pass anything, he would automatically veto it. Due to the fact that both Obama and Congress could not accomplish anything, his executive action timing is irrelevant.
Executives orders are technically able to override a law in Congress. It's something that citizens have to follow and can be made at any given time, should the president feel he has to do so. So yes, Obama can legally do it. His timing on the other hand, varies depending on which way you look at it. On one side, it's the perfect timing to do it, since both houses of Congress are relatively mixed with Republicans and Democrats. When giving this order,Obama will have many people on his side, and many people against it. However, in terms of the new midterm elections that just occurred, it was a shady move. This new executive order is strongly looked down upon by the new Republicans who will soon take over both the House and Senate. If he had waited for the new Congress in December, there would have been more of an outrage. His timing, given his circumstances, was perfect. But it's not the timing that matters since it's such a controversial issue for many.
I think the entire thing is a very smart political move by Obama to secure a democratic victory in the 2016 presidential election, and I think it all has to do with his timing. He has put the Republican party in a corner because now they can't oppose the Executive Order without alienating a large part of the voting population - Latin Americans. He has also, simultaneously secured those votes for the democratic party - and has completely solidified party lines with a permanent marker. This was almost a preemptive strike by Obama to ensure that the Democrats come out ahead in the next election. He could have waited for congress and tried to work with republicans, but if he had done that then Republicans would still be able to secure Latin American votes, now they are forced to agree with him or lose the election. It was an EXTREMEMLY Politcially smart move by Obama, he knows that in the next 2 years he will be highly restricted by the Republican Congress so he made a move that - while deadlocking him for the rest of his presidency - opens the doors for the next democratic president to win the election and get a democratic Congress. The timing was politically excellent coming off of the midterm losses. Politically brilliant.
As for the Executive Order itself, it is completely legal, many presidents have used it for many different reasons, though I don't buy the reasons Obama has listed for passing it - the timing is everything - He uses those reasons to gain sympathy with the american people; no one wants to tear apart families, but in reality he just wants his party to win. Congress may or may not have passed it, but that doesn't matter - its passed, its legal, and Obama just pulled a Marshall Swindle.
I think President Obama definitely had the legal authority to make this executive action, and I think his timing is perfect. By announcing his executive order now, the new congress, which mostly disagrees with Obama's actions, will be given a choice: allow Obama to pass this executive order to their dismay, or to go against it while easily losing the votes of a growing sector of voters. In either case, I believe Obama would win as some reform would be made and possible at the expense of the republican party.
I would also like to address some concerns about allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the country. It is completely unreasonable to say that any country could locate and deport 11 million people. It would not only waste time, but the taxpayer's money. At the same time, these people who, although came illegally, are generally good people. These people came to America to live a better life- often giving all that they have to avoid violence, abuse, and terrible living conditions- and to say that their wants and desires are unreasonable would be hypocritical of any American. These are real people who breathe and eat the same way you and I do. They are also aiding the economy, by delaying deportation and possibly allowing these people to become citizens, the average income in America would raise and America would raise billions of dollars more in taxpayer revenue each year. This isn't granting amnesty or encouraging others to illegally cross the borders as the border's security is being heightened as well; this action is only easing the citizenship process of current residents while acting tougher on those immigrants who do commit crimes and perform actions which are damaging to the country. A move which I believe is both smart and considerate.
Immigration is a topic that is definitely tricky to address. However, it is one that is necessary to bring to attention. I'm happy that President Obama has decided to address the issue, but I don't really agree with the way he has chosen to address it. According to the video on what executive order exactly entails, what President Obama is doing with his immigration reform is in fact legal. I feel that the president's timing was the perfect timing for him personally. As stated in the video on what executive order exactly means, it said that Congress has the power to pass a bill to change a president's executive order and in turn, the president constitutionally has the right to veto that bill. However, Congress then in turn has the power to override that veto with 2/3rd's vote in both chambers. I feel that Obama choose to pass his reform at this time because come January, the new congress of both a Republican House and Senate will be put into place. I'm not sure exactly how I feel on if his timing was right or not, but I do feel that President Obama wouldn't have waited to implement his immigration reform simply for the reason above. I understand Obama's reasoning behind why he has chosen to address the immigration problem in our country, but I feel he could have picked a better way to approach the situation. These people are in our country illegally and yes, I understand that they have come for a better life and better opportunities which I completely applaud, but why doesn't Obama try to figure out a system to allow these illegal immigrants to have the opportunity to become legal and feel like actual citizens of this country? However, as stated in the Washington Post article, Obama has never claimed an ability to offer a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
Though I do not agree with President Obama's stance on this issue, I do believe that he has the legal authority to enact this executive action. Some may argue that the timing of President Obama's decision was strategic, but I believe otherwise. Obama does not have much time left as President, and I feel he is trying to save time by proposing this executive action now. By waiting for the new congress to come in during January of 2015, Obama would be wasting valuable time. Though two years may seem like a long time, when it comes to politics, it's a snug time frame to work with.
Obama's executive order is very much legal and is untounchable by Congress. The only aspect of government that could help to stop this decision is the Supreme Court. However, much the Supreme Court is on his side of the order. Also, this can be a very strategic move for Obama. Because if this announcement, he will have millions more democracts on his side, helping to reinforce the democrat party in the oncoming years while he is in office and out of office. Having this executive order right before the Congress election will help solidify a more equal competition between the democratic side and the republican side. Finially, I do not think he should have waited after the elections because by then, many people would not be on his side. So this move is the best thing he could have done for himself and the party now.
Obama's recent use of executive decision is a quick resolution to the extensive amount of time it takes for Congress to pass a bill. With the new Congress coming in being mostly Republican not much is going to be passed that the President doesn't end up vetoing. The need for a solution to the growing problem is immense and Obama's executive decision is only meant to be temporary. The amount of money expended trying to keep illegals out and to find illegals that already live in the US is ridiculous. I don't think that anyone that has made their way into the US illegally should be allowed to stay, however its near impossible to find all the people that have come in under the radar. This move however isn't the worst idea, it is better then just seeing bills passed and vetoed.
President Obama's executive order is absolutely legal, I don't understand where people got the unconstitutional aspect. Also the speech in itself was written to appeal to a moral standpoint rather than a legal one. His main argument was to not separate families, it is a good view to have but the question is, how can it be implemented? The presidents timing, was impeccable, this will be the first test for congress. The Republican Party will be at a disadvantage in the 2016 presidential elections because of this executive action. If congress where to oppose it, due to the recent elections, the Republican Party would be the one blamed. This would affect the election because the Hispanic community is a large section of the voting poll. This order protects only 5 million illegal immigrants, and only those already in America. The President didn't open the doors to all illegal immigrants, but instead focus our energy productively and get those that are harming our society. Most come to America for a better life, and that's all illegal immigrants want.
There really is no question as to whether is legal or not. President Obama clearly has the authority to do this and by doing so he has won the admiration of millions of now temporary legal immigrants who technically can register to vote. In actuality, this changes the situation of illegal immigrants as far as congress goes very little. Odds are republicans who are opposed to the executive action now would still be opposed to Obama whether it happened or not. Thus, the timing would've not really mattered. It is, as a whole, a smart political move for his administration and the Democratic Party in the future.
I see no reason to believe that the president's actions are unconstitutional; in fact, they act as a check on an irresponsible Congress. The immigration problem left in the status quo threatens human rights in illicit border crossings and crowded, abusive detention centers. While President Obama's executive action can't address these urgent issues directly, they can put pressure on Congress to do so and clean up immigration policy. The timing of the president's announcement is strategic for the cause of immigration reform. When the next Congress enters office come January, all eyes will be on them to address immigration, which has begun to fill the attention vacuum left by dwindling public interest in the ISIS and Ebola emergencies. Granted, the momentum could be lost in the month's time until inauguration in January - but this could be the only opportunity left under the current administration.
Obama's executive order is within the legal authority of the executive branch. Though, the people who are deeming his actions being "unconstitutional" or "illegal" are simply incorrect. First, since the act is not unilateral because he is acting according to laws already made by Congress which says he must enforce, his action is stays constitutional. Second, he is acting not contrary to, but under the authority of, other branches. Obama is acting within the law by establishing those very policies and priorities. Timing wise, it would have been better if Obama would have waited for the new Congress to engage on this issue next year before contemplating any action, but it is pretty clear at this point that he is more interested in using it to the Democrats’ political advantage in 2016 than he is in working in a bipartisan manner to address this pressing challenge.
Obama handled this situation poorly. Yes, he has the legal authority to do so; however, I know this will bring issues between the Republican Party and him. Nevertheless, republicans may get a bad rep considering many immigrants are in favor of the Democratic Party. With the illegal immigrants granted legal citizenship it will bring more money to our country, due to the ability of them paying taxes. A negative impact would be the conflicting views across our nation, and the decrease in more available jobs. I think Congress will get involved as soon as possible.
I think that his act was unconstitutional and unlawful. A president’s job is to enforce the laws passed by Congress and Obama is acting in spite of Congress. His actions resemble those of a dictator. We live in a democratic society, not a tyrannical one. And that is what makes us the greatest country in the world. Giving the illegal immigrants, in our country right now, more rights or more power will just lead to more illegal immigrants coming into our country. The more illegal immigrants that come into our country, the more crowded it will be, therefore leading to an increase in poor people in our country. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The illegal workers are greatly contributing to this because they are under paid and overused. Timing of this matter does matter. Maybe, he should have waited for the new congress to come in, in January, but he was to impatient and decided to go against that idea.
I believe that President Obama's executive action decision to keep the millions of illegal immigrants in America is arguably legal. I understand his timing and reasoning when making the decision. The timing of the executive action by the president is reasonable when you understand that he is working with an majorly Republican congress in which any plan that will be sent to the president will be rejected anyways in the future. Also the action is a governmental power move that could effectively raise the chances of a democratic president in the next presidential election. On the Contrary, this plan could very well backfire on the Democratic party and make a joke of his decision. I believe that these millions of illegal immigrants are much harder working than the present lower class and unemployed citizens of America who generally tend to vote Democratic. These newly legal immigrants will take over jobs across the nation, not because they're more qualified, but simply because they are harder working and more determined to find work, than the lower class citizens and the unemployed. This could actually backfire on the party and cause more problems than needed. On another note, one of President Obama's reasons for not deporting these illegals was because the job was unreasonable and too much work to execute? I find it horrific that because we can't enforce our put in place laws, we are allowed to just make the people that broke them legal. Good message America. Ultimately, I realize why the president is making his move, but I don't respect it, nor do I believe it's right.
The constitution says that the president is allowed to issue and executive action so it is legal. Because it is an executive action I don't believe it matters if he waited or not because he can't be overruled anyway. I don't think that this is right though. I think that people should have to legally enter the US not illegally. Just like many people's grandparents did when they came to this country they should have to enter legally and go through the same process otherwise were just allowing people to keep entering and not punishing them.
Obama's executive order is within the powers allocated to the executive branch and are not unconstitutional as many are accusing it to be. His timing is also strategic as he is serving his final few years in office - this move would help to strengthen the democratic party. I don't think he should have waited for the new Congress in January because it works more to the democratic party's advantage to have done it when he did. Obama's timing with this order shows that he is thinking towards the future and the next election by trying to secure a win for his party.
There is no doubt in the world that what Obama did is legal. He makes the good point in his speech stating that presidents before him have used and even abused the executive order to get policies and other stuff done. The only reason why people can even think that is illegal is because they hate Obama or his policy on immigration or are just ignorant. Also, i think his timing was great because he put a lot of pressure on Congress to work together and get a bill made. If all they do is complain and call him a dictator, then nobody will vote for a Republican in the upcoming elections. This can also make Republicans look good, if they handle this responsibly and do come up with a sufficient bill.
I do think that what President Obama did regarding his executive action was 100% legal. Presidents before him have used their executive action powers more frequently, so I see no reason to think that in this case it was unconstitutional. Also, Obamas actions will force a newly elected congress to act, rather than just let things continue on as they are. It will be difficult for the Republicans to do what they want without offending the millions of Hispanic Americans that will be voting in the next election. Obama's action put the entire Republic party into a bind, making this a great strategic move.
I believe that Obama's executive orders are legal and constitutional. Many believe he chose to address the immigration issue after the Republicans took control of Congress in order to secure more Democratic votes for the upcoming presidential election, and I do not argue that, but I believe that he has not guaranteed anything. Whether anymore people choose to vote Democratic in 2016 is dependent upon both congress's and his further actions. I believe there are some faults in the President's plan, such as not offering the Affordable Care Act, a requirement for all U.S. citizens, to new immigrants, and attempting to "secure" borders. It is just not realistic to prevent, or deport, millions of illegal immigrants. Overall, I agree with Obama's actions to issue an executive order because addressing the issue was necessary and proposing a resolution to Congress would have just extended the decision-making process. It is up to the Republican-controlled Congress to further act, which will determine whether or not Obama's timing was beneficial in gaining Democratic votes.
I believe President Obama's executive action was constitutional because it is within his power to do so. Many presidents before him have made executive actions; however, it is the subject of this executive action that makes it so controversial. I believe the timing of this executive action was a strategic move for the democratic party because the new Republican-controlled Congress will have to take action on this executive action, which could be detrimental for the Republican party in the 2016 election. The Republican party will have to deal with this issue without hurting the Latin American voting population. Overall, this executive action was a strategic move on President Obama's part and will most likely help the Democratic party.
President Obamas executive action was not unconstitutional but I don't know if it could also be classified under constitutional as well. He isn't making all illegal immigrants citizens, he is however allowing them the opportunity to become a citizen and change their lifestyles. This was right to me because congress wasn't doing much and immediately as they had a change in representation he blind sided them. I believe this will allow them to work more effectively rather than giving congress time to again sit and do nothing, This could also be beneficial to US economy allowing millions of new taxpayers as well as allowing the US to monitor them more. Allowing illegal immigrants to come out from the shadows and exist as a person not only will benefit them but could bring many benefits to the US as well.
There's no doubt that Obama's action is in fact legal and constitutional. However, it's the manner and topic with which there is such turmoil. Immigration is arguably one of the most contentious topics in today's politics. For President Obama to employ executive action is an underhanded, but a surely calculated ploy. As congress is now predominantly Republican, it's really the majority party that will have to deal with the repercussions of this installment, something that will most likely cause an outcry no matter the outcome. That leaves the democrats to be perceived in a more positive light in the next round of elections. in 2016.
Obama made his move at the right time. Finally, he decides to pass a bill and this one in particular on immigration. So, that means that the 6 million or so illegal immigrants will be extremely reduced, and they can contribute to the country like all citizens through taxes and voting. Since immigrants are mostly democrats, I see this as a strategic move for Obama by gaining those votes. However, some republicans are totally against this action and think its ridiculous to allow someone who snuck into the country to stay in the country. Well, I don't know how realistic it would be to deport all these illegal immigrants.
Obama's whole purpose behind his action to allow the 6 million or so immigrants into our country is merely to give them opportunity and the chance to experience being a citizen. Obama's thought process was to prioritize our use of tax fair money to remove illegal immigrants that are a threat to our natural resources because we are limited. That way, they could contribute to society and pay taxes, rather than being in hiding and not being useful. Those who sought out to get an education were better off for it and will go off to live better lives because of it.
There is nothing wrong with the president's move here. The dispute over immigration has been long winded without any sign of legislation being agreed upon. This executive action is not only legal (an executive order is indeed part of our nation's law used by many presidents over our history), but President Obama has selected his timing well. Although some disagree, this forces Congress to make some sort of decision on the issue if they wish to overturn his action. As part of his speech he even said directly to Congress, "...then pass a bill." He is well aware that this is not a permanent fix, but at least he is doing something about the issue.
President Obama is definitely legally able to make this decision. If a President feels as though a policy must be made for safety and/or security reasons then he may pass an exucutive order that overrides Congress. As for timing I think he planned it perfectly. We are at a poin with political parties that I very hostile. Seldom is it about why a politician believes in, it is about his or her party (generally). It is in this way that he was best for to make this decision now. The new congress coming in is a majority of Republicans. Therefore it will be increasingly hard for a democratic president to pass much of anything.
Even though Obama acted within his power to act on this issue alone, it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. The Republican party has received criticism for not wanting to work with Obama, yet this is an instance when Obama doesn't want to work with the Republican Party. The Republican Party gave Obama plenty of warnings of what would happen if he would do this, yet Obama did it anyway. He planned to do it as this time because the Republican Party takes over both houses in January. He should have waited till after January to show that he is willing to work with the opposition party.
President Obama has every right to use executive action in order to fix a system that has been broken for many years. To the critics who say that he does not have the right to do this, remember that President Obama is not he first to use executive action to pass a law and he certainly will not be the last. His timing is also completely justified. With Congress out, passing executive actions seems like the best way to pass laws without too much criticism. Waiting for Congress would have done nothing, considering they can't even pass one bill as of lately.. In all honesty, this was probably the best way to approach this issue.
Obama's executive action is definitively constitutional since making these kinds of decisions falls under specific powers he holds in the government. I think this is not a bad move because in the long run, it can promote a healthier economy since there would be a new wave of a young work force that will also raise wages for existing workers. Obama's timing was good because his term is slowly running out, so he is trying to make the best out of it by making significant changes while he still can. Even if he had waited for Congress, most likely nothing would get done as always because he would not get them to agree to his ideas, so issuing this executive order now is as good timing as any will ever be.
As head of the United States, President Obama has the legal authority to perform such an act by means of executive action. President Obama's points and reasoning are full and truly a means for a positive direction of the nation. The advantages of allowing hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants in the States the possibility to not fear deportation allowing them to come from the shadows and even promote the economy in the fact that they'll be paying taxes just like any other working class Resident or Citizen. Although congress cannot come to agreement and work together to come up with a decision, the steps that President Obama took to initiate a reform that effects the nation so greatly and to hopefully lead congress to a unified decision was truly the right ones. Thus, the planning and the timing of this execution is as good as ever.
Obama had the authority to act as he did whether it was the right choice or not it was the smartest choice for him and his party. Waiting for congress may have taken more time than his term would allow seeing as of how unproductive they are(#govermentshutdown). This act was definitely part of an attempt to help persuade a more democratic victory in the next upcoming election so even if what he did was right or wrong it was the smartest move for the democratic party in 2016.
Obama absolutely has the legal authority to enact executive action...the real question is: Is this the best way to deal with the illegal immigration issue? The subject of illegal immigration has been under heated debate for a while---sending this idea through the Congress would drag (as most issues do) because of Congress' inability to compromise. In fact, currently there is an immigration bill languishing in the House of Representatives...simply waiting to be enacted. However, with respect to efficiently making and executing a decision, the executive action is effective. Is everyone in agreement with this exercise of power? No, but delaying the issue until January would not necessarily be beneficial either. The decision has been made (though I personally don't agree with it. Why reward people who have immigrated by illicit means?), we may need to dull our negative attitudes towards illegal immigration and consider the positive aspects of temporarily giving these people some legal status (more people paying taxes, paying into Social Security, etc.). However, there is another concern; there may come to be a stigma in which foreigners believe that the American government can be persuaded to act in favor of the will of its residents, including those who are illegal, if an issue becomes a large enough source of discontent. If this proves true, will the U.S see a larger increase in the number of future illegal immigrants?
I think Obama did have the power to execute this order. The executive action is legal and stays within the rules of the constitution. An execute order does not need congressional consent. I think Obama made the right decision to do this now rather than with the new congress. Obama's decision to pass the executive order was the most wise in my opinion. It would be very difficult for the democratic party to pass a bill through congress that achieved what they sought to achieve with that executive order.
President Obama has the authority to make an executive decision and so did any president before him. He used his power to try to fix a system that has been broken for many years.His timing was perfect due the fact that congress is not in session so he will receive little criticism from them at this time. Also it is coming to end of his second term and this will help allow another democratic win.
Whether or not the executive order is constitutional or not shouldn't be in question - any criticism in that regard is simply due to prior bias towards Obama and his policies. Countless previous presidents have used the executive order to further their agendas without significant controversy, so why has Obama been so criticised? In the wake of their recent loss, this action is a wresting of power for the democratic party in preparation for the future. If he had waited for the new predominantly Republican Congress in January, it would've given them more room to work with. Since he has enacted this now, the Republican party faces the loss of an entire demographic (Latin American) of voters. Now the Democratic party has a foothold of power from which they will maneuver for the next election.
As president, Obama's action was perfectly legal. His timing was strategic in order to strengthen the democratic party in the upcoming election. Although his action may come with backlash, it is important that he took a step towards a solution to this controversial issue. This first step may motivate others to act rather than stall and avoid the topic. While I disagree with the order, his actions may cause more people to act and start working at this issue which has been swept aside for so long. Obama was smart with the timing of his order and did so legally and within the Constitution.
I don't really understand why people are stating that they believe Obama's executive order is illegal: the second video clearly states that as long as the executive order does not exceed the bounds of the Constitution, then it will be considered legal. President Obama did not create a new law in his executive order, he expanded one (DACA), and because he is simply expanding a law and not writing and instituting something completely new (which is something the Constitution explicitly bans), he is staying within the bounds of the Constitution, making his executive order perfectly legal. Personally, I think this executive order was extremely smart on a large collection of levels, but especially economically, emotionally, and politically. I think that Obama realizes that this order, if executed, will cost our economy at first (by means of increasing border patrol, law enforcement, etc.), but he also realizes that this will most likely pay off in the long run. By specifically stating that visas would be facilitated to those who seek a STEM degree (the nation's and the world's leading source of employment), I think he is quietly implying that the individuals who come to America may eventually be expected to become working citizens of the United States in these fields. Morally, the order indicates that many families will be kept together across the nation, which is significant to a large amount of people on a personal level, including and especially the Latin-American population in this country. Also relating to the moral aspect, the timing of this order, as well as the order itself, is genius; less than a month after a huge loss by the Democratic Party, this was a huge power play by President Obama that was used to stabilize the damage that the democrats just suffered from. The Latin-American population in the United States is a key factor in the outcome of elections, as their total population is around 17% (it may seem small, but it could make a big difference), so even though President Obama wanted to empathize with many people, he most likely especially wanted to empathize with the Latino population. As for timing in regards to the new Congress in January, I also believe that this was a smart move here as well. The president is making it clear that he wants Congress to do something, so I think he also wanted to imply that he wanted the new Congress to be ready to hit the ground running. I'm almost positive he wanted to make it clear that he wants this Congress to be prepared at the start of the first opening session to discuss major issues like immigration (and maybe even other issues he'll possibly bring up over the coming weeks as well). Again, this was an incredibly strong power play by the president by means of supporting his political party (as we're now entering his last two years in office, and the next two years could have a huge impact on the 2016 election), but it's important to mention that the message he wanted to give the incoming Congress COULD backfire: if Congress isn't prepared to discuss these issues or these issues are avoided once the new Congress is in session, then it will be a definite win for the democratic party, but if the new Republican Congress is able to meet and exceed President Obama's expectations, and they pass legislation on these issues that a majority of Americans agree with, then it's extremely possible that the GOP could clinch the next presidential election.
President Obama's action may have been constitutional, but I don't think it accomplishes much. In fact, I think that he caused more of a divide between our two political parties which will not help our production in Congress. Obama should have waited until January, because it would gain him respect for cooperating with the GOP.
President Obama certainly has the authority to pass an executive order; nothing illegal has happened here. Timing-wise, the fact that he didn't wait for the new Congress in January shows that he - probably correctly - doesn't think that he and Congress will be able to agree on any legislation. Obama wants something to be done, and though his actions may drive an even deeper wedge between the two political parties, at least he is taking some action on what he believes to be right.
Obama's actions were not unconstitutional because he was working under the authority of the executive branch and isn't misusing his authority.His timing could be deemed relevant but I honestly believe he is doing what he thinks needs to be done, he could have done it in order to better help his party but i truly think he is just trying to do as much as he can get done in the allotted time he has left in office.
I believe that a lot of the backlash from this executive action is unfounded. Legally, it is perfectly acceptable. George W. Bush set a precedent for executive orders, passing more than any other president before him and that right should not be taken away from Obama simply because he doesn't have the support of both parties. I also believe Obama's timing is irrelevant; it doesn't do much to actively help his party. These people still cannot vote. It may be a moral victory and provide some good press, but it also caused huge amounts of backlash from the Republican party. In fact, his timing is brilliant. By passing it with the current Congress in power, he actually gets less backlash because the Republicans haven't seized complete control yet. In a more general sense, I personally believe that Obama did the right thing. These people do not hurt America, they often perform jobs that we (privileged citizens) would never dream of doing, and that should not be taken for granted. It's not like this is a blanket pardon, there are caveats and requirements. In an economic sense, it is smart to downsize the efforts to deport illegal aliens. Why spend the money when you can start making them pay money to live here (harmlessly), just like they have been doing for years?
The executive action taken by President Obama is 100% legal. Yes, this move caused controversy, but it was not unconstitutional. With the recent elections and Republicans controlling Congress, Obama made this announcement at a strategic time. I don't disagree with his plan, because many illegal immigrants want to become citizens, so this would make it easier for them. It's not possible to find and deport the millions of illegal immigrants in the country, so its better to just help them become citizens. Obama made a smart move in giving this speech.
There is no reason that President Obama has overstepped any legal boundaries or (for that matter) even any precedents. The executive order was created in the constitution to help the executive branch fulfill the needs of the people and, as the polls from the article of the American public show, it is infact following the will of the people. Immigration actions by executive order have been used by every president going all the way back to Eisenhower, so there should be no qualms with President Obama following the same steps of presidents before him. The time to release this bill was last year when the bill was refused to be voted on by the House, waiting this long has shown great patience by the Obama administration. If the new Congress in January really cares about this bipartisan result to the issue than they will create and pass a bill through the proper channels. The president would be more than willing to sign just about any bill into law but, to quote the president, "...[Congress] pass a bill".
While timing-wise this decision might not he best for his career, I hardly think it matters at this point, since he is nearing the end of his term and cannot run for reelection. That being said, seeing as how it is under his jurisdiction, it seems completely fine.
Obama's executive action was totally legal for him to do. It was never unconstitutional. I think his timing is not the most adequate but at least his done something about the problem. No he puts congress to actually pass a bill that would solve the legal status of many immigrants, which is what a lot of this people are all hoping for.
President Obama's executive action was completely legal and constitutional for him to do. Although his timing is controversial because of the results of the recent mid-term elections, it's not really relevant because he's almost done with his time as President and is not fighting to please so he can be reelected.
President Obama's executive order is legal. President Obama needed to pass something in order to help this issue. With that, the congress will need to do something, whether they pass a bill or not. If president Obama waited until January, the same outcome would have happened, but later. Therefore, his timing did not matter when talking about congress, it only happened sooner. Also, some may say the executive order will hurt his career, but he is coming to an end and cannot re-run for president. If people think this will hurt another democratic president, they must think about how far in the future that is, and there will be more things to worry about.
Although it may have not been a popular decision, President Obama executive order was completely constitutional. The decision came at a time when it became obvious republicans will have majority rule in Congress. He knew it would be difficult, to say the least, to pass the immigration bill, thru regular means.
The president is able to do so and it is legal. Since the president and congress don't agree on anything, I think that he felt the need to do it himself; however, I do believe that he should have waited for the new congress to avoid an upset. The timing is irrelevant because it is legal for the president to carry out this action on his own.
I think President Obama does have the right to what he is doing. Although, it may bring the republican party against him he is doing what he can. They're many way to solve a situation and there is only one president so he makes his solution/decision. Given that he is basically delaying the deportation of immigrants it can bring more taxes in, which effecting the US. I do think what he did was strategic by basically putting all the heat on the congress and republicans it could give him some breathing room while they make a decision.
Technically under the Constitution, Obama can issue an executive action if he feels he should do so. However, this executive action addresses an issue that Congress can not agree upon. Therefore, Obama can legally do so but I believe that his order is morally incorrect. People should be legally allowed to enter the US, not illegally. The timing of his action in this case does not matter. If he were to attempt to get the new Congress to pass anything, he would automatically veto it. Due to the fact that both Obama and Congress could not accomplish anything, his executive action timing is irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteExecutives orders are technically able to override a law in Congress. It's something that citizens have to follow and can be made at any given time, should the president feel he has to do so. So yes, Obama can legally do it. His timing on the other hand, varies depending on which way you look at it. On one side, it's the perfect timing to do it, since both houses of Congress are relatively mixed with Republicans and Democrats. When giving this order,Obama will have many people on his side, and many people against it. However, in terms of the new midterm elections that just occurred, it was a shady move. This new executive order is strongly looked down upon by the new Republicans who will soon take over both the House and Senate. If he had waited for the new Congress in December, there would have been more of an outrage. His timing, given his circumstances, was perfect. But it's not the timing that matters since it's such a controversial issue for many.
ReplyDeleteI think the entire thing is a very smart political move by Obama to secure a democratic victory in the 2016 presidential election, and I think it all has to do with his timing. He has put the Republican party in a corner because now they can't oppose the Executive Order without alienating a large part of the voting population - Latin Americans. He has also, simultaneously secured those votes for the democratic party - and has completely solidified party lines with a permanent marker. This was almost a preemptive strike by Obama to ensure that the Democrats come out ahead in the next election. He could have waited for congress and tried to work with republicans, but if he had done that then Republicans would still be able to secure Latin American votes, now they are forced to agree with him or lose the election. It was an EXTREMEMLY Politcially smart move by Obama, he knows that in the next 2 years he will be highly restricted by the Republican Congress so he made a move that - while deadlocking him for the rest of his presidency - opens the doors for the next democratic president to win the election and get a democratic Congress. The timing was politically excellent coming off of the midterm losses. Politically brilliant.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Executive Order itself, it is completely legal, many presidents have used it for many different reasons, though I don't buy the reasons Obama has listed for passing it - the timing is everything - He uses those reasons to gain sympathy with the american people; no one wants to tear apart families, but in reality he just wants his party to win. Congress may or may not have passed it, but that doesn't matter - its passed, its legal, and Obama just pulled a Marshall Swindle.
I think President Obama definitely had the legal authority to make this executive action, and I think his timing is perfect. By announcing his executive order now, the new congress, which mostly disagrees with Obama's actions, will be given a choice: allow Obama to pass this executive order to their dismay, or to go against it while easily losing the votes of a growing sector of voters. In either case, I believe Obama would win as some reform would be made and possible at the expense of the republican party.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to address some concerns about allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the country. It is completely unreasonable to say that any country could locate and deport 11 million people. It would not only waste time, but the taxpayer's money. At the same time, these people who, although came illegally, are generally good people. These people came to America to live a better life- often giving all that they have to avoid violence, abuse, and terrible living conditions- and to say that their wants and desires are unreasonable would be hypocritical of any American. These are real people who breathe and eat the same way you and I do. They are also aiding the economy, by delaying deportation and possibly allowing these people to become citizens, the average income in America would raise and America would raise billions of dollars more in taxpayer revenue each year. This isn't granting amnesty or encouraging others to illegally cross the borders as the border's security is being heightened as well; this action is only easing the citizenship process of current residents while acting tougher on those immigrants who do commit crimes and perform actions which are damaging to the country. A move which I believe is both smart and considerate.
Immigration is a topic that is definitely tricky to address. However, it is one that is necessary to bring to attention. I'm happy that President Obama has decided to address the issue, but I don't really agree with the way he has chosen to address it. According to the video on what executive order exactly entails, what President Obama is doing with his immigration reform is in fact legal. I feel that the president's timing was the perfect timing for him personally. As stated in the video on what executive order exactly means, it said that Congress has the power to pass a bill to change a president's executive order and in turn, the president constitutionally has the right to veto that bill. However, Congress then in turn has the power to override that veto with 2/3rd's vote in both chambers. I feel that Obama choose to pass his reform at this time because come January, the new congress of both a Republican House and Senate will be put into place. I'm not sure exactly how I feel on if his timing was right or not, but I do feel that President Obama wouldn't have waited to implement his immigration reform simply for the reason above. I understand Obama's reasoning behind why he has chosen to address the immigration problem in our country, but I feel he could have picked a better way to approach the situation. These people are in our country illegally and yes, I understand that they have come for a better life and better opportunities which I completely applaud, but why doesn't Obama try to figure out a system to allow these illegal immigrants to have the opportunity to become legal and feel like actual citizens of this country? However, as stated in the Washington Post article, Obama has never claimed an ability to offer a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
ReplyDeleteThough I do not agree with President Obama's stance on this issue, I do believe that he has the legal authority to enact this executive action. Some may argue that the timing of President Obama's decision was strategic, but I believe otherwise. Obama does not have much time left as President, and I feel he is trying to save time by proposing this executive action now. By waiting for the new congress to come in during January of 2015, Obama would be wasting valuable time. Though two years may seem like a long time, when it comes to politics, it's a snug time frame to work with.
ReplyDeleteObama's executive order is very much legal and is untounchable by Congress. The only aspect of government that could help to stop this decision is the Supreme Court. However, much the Supreme Court is on his side of the order. Also, this can be a very strategic move for Obama. Because if this announcement, he will have millions more democracts on his side, helping to reinforce the democrat party in the oncoming years while he is in office and out of office. Having this executive order right before the Congress election will help solidify a more equal competition between the democratic side and the republican side. Finially, I do not think he should have waited after the elections because by then, many people would not be on his side. So this move is the best thing he could have done for himself and the party now.
ReplyDeleteObama's recent use of executive decision is a quick resolution to the extensive amount of time it takes for Congress to pass a bill. With the new Congress coming in being mostly Republican not much is going to be passed that the President doesn't end up vetoing. The need for a solution to the growing problem is immense and Obama's executive decision is only meant to be temporary. The amount of money expended trying to keep illegals out and to find illegals that already live in the US is ridiculous. I don't think that anyone that has made their way into the US illegally should be allowed to stay, however its near impossible to find all the people that have come in under the radar. This move however isn't the worst idea, it is better then just seeing bills passed and vetoed.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama's executive order is absolutely legal, I don't understand where people got the unconstitutional aspect. Also the speech in itself was written to appeal to a moral standpoint rather than a legal one. His main argument was to not separate families, it is a good view to have but the question is, how can it be implemented? The presidents timing, was impeccable, this will be the first test for congress. The Republican Party will be at a disadvantage in the 2016 presidential elections because of this executive action. If congress where to oppose it, due to the recent elections, the Republican Party would be the one blamed. This would affect the election because the Hispanic community is a large section of the voting poll. This order protects only 5 million illegal immigrants, and only those already in America. The President didn't open the doors to all illegal immigrants, but instead focus our energy productively and get those that are harming our society. Most come to America for a better life, and that's all illegal immigrants want.
ReplyDeleteThere really is no question as to whether is legal or not. President Obama clearly has the authority to do this and by doing so he has won the admiration of millions of now temporary legal immigrants who technically can register to vote. In actuality, this changes the situation of illegal immigrants as far as congress goes very little. Odds are republicans who are opposed to the executive action now would still be opposed to Obama whether it happened or not. Thus, the timing would've not really mattered. It is, as a whole, a smart political move for his administration and the Democratic Party in the future.
ReplyDeleteI see no reason to believe that the president's actions are unconstitutional; in fact, they act as a check on an irresponsible Congress. The immigration problem left in the status quo threatens human rights in illicit border crossings and crowded, abusive detention centers. While President Obama's executive action can't address these urgent issues directly, they can put pressure on Congress to do so and clean up immigration policy. The timing of the president's announcement is strategic for the cause of immigration reform. When the next Congress enters office come January, all eyes will be on them to address immigration, which has begun to fill the attention vacuum left by dwindling public interest in the ISIS and Ebola emergencies. Granted, the momentum could be lost in the month's time until inauguration in January - but this could be the only opportunity left under the current administration.
ReplyDeleteObama's executive order is within the legal authority of the executive branch. Though, the people who are deeming his actions being "unconstitutional" or "illegal" are simply incorrect. First, since the act is not unilateral because he is acting according to laws already made by Congress which says he must enforce, his action is stays constitutional. Second, he is acting not contrary to, but under the authority of, other branches. Obama is acting within the law by establishing those very policies and priorities. Timing wise, it would have been better if Obama would have waited for the new Congress to engage on this issue next year before contemplating any action, but it is pretty clear at this point that he is more interested in using it to the Democrats’ political advantage in 2016 than he is in working in a bipartisan manner to address this pressing challenge.
ReplyDeleteObama handled this situation poorly. Yes, he has the legal authority to do so; however, I know this will bring issues between the Republican Party and him. Nevertheless, republicans may get a bad rep considering many immigrants are in favor of the Democratic Party. With the illegal immigrants granted legal citizenship it will bring more money to our country, due to the ability of them paying taxes. A negative impact would be the conflicting views across our nation, and the decrease in more available jobs. I think Congress will get involved as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteI think that his act was unconstitutional and unlawful. A president’s job is to enforce the laws passed by Congress and Obama is acting in spite of Congress. His actions resemble those of a dictator. We live in a democratic society, not a tyrannical one. And that is what makes us the greatest country in the world. Giving the illegal immigrants, in our country right now, more rights or more power will just lead to more illegal immigrants coming into our country. The more illegal immigrants that come into our country, the more crowded it will be, therefore leading to an increase in poor people in our country. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The illegal workers are greatly contributing to this because they are under paid and overused. Timing of this matter does matter. Maybe, he should have waited for the new congress to come in, in January, but he was to impatient and decided to go against that idea.
ReplyDeleteI believe that President Obama's executive action decision to keep the millions of illegal immigrants in America is arguably legal. I understand his timing and reasoning when making the decision. The timing of the executive action by the president is reasonable when you understand that he is working with an majorly Republican congress in which any plan that will be sent to the president will be rejected anyways in the future. Also the action is a governmental power move that could effectively raise the chances of a democratic president in the next presidential election. On the Contrary, this plan could very well backfire on the Democratic party and make a joke of his decision. I believe that these millions of illegal immigrants are much harder working than the present lower class and unemployed citizens of America who generally tend to vote Democratic. These newly legal immigrants will take over jobs across the nation, not because they're more qualified, but simply because they are harder working and more determined to find work, than the lower class citizens and the unemployed. This could actually backfire on the party and cause more problems than needed. On another note, one of President Obama's reasons for not deporting these illegals was because the job was unreasonable and too much work to execute? I find it horrific that because we can't enforce our put in place laws, we are allowed to just make the people that broke them legal. Good message America. Ultimately, I realize why the president is making his move, but I don't respect it, nor do I believe it's right.
ReplyDeleteThe constitution says that the president is allowed to issue and executive action so it is legal. Because it is an executive action I don't believe it matters if he waited or not because he can't be overruled anyway. I don't think that this is right though. I think that people should have to legally enter the US not illegally. Just like many people's grandparents did when they came to this country they should have to enter legally and go through the same process otherwise were just allowing people to keep entering and not punishing them.
ReplyDeleteObama's executive order is within the powers allocated to the executive branch and are not unconstitutional as many are accusing it to be. His timing is also strategic as he is serving his final few years in office - this move would help to strengthen the democratic party. I don't think he should have waited for the new Congress in January because it works more to the democratic party's advantage to have done it when he did. Obama's timing with this order shows that he is thinking towards the future and the next election by trying to secure a win for his party.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt in the world that what Obama did is legal. He makes the good point in his speech stating that presidents before him have used and even abused the executive order to get policies and other stuff done. The only reason why people can even think that is illegal is because they hate Obama or his policy on immigration or are just ignorant. Also, i think his timing was great because he put a lot of pressure on Congress to work together and get a bill made. If all they do is complain and call him a dictator, then nobody will vote for a Republican in the upcoming elections. This can also make Republicans look good, if they handle this responsibly and do come up with a sufficient bill.
ReplyDeleteI do think that what President Obama did regarding his executive action was 100% legal. Presidents before him have used their executive action powers more frequently, so I see no reason to think that in this case it was unconstitutional. Also, Obamas actions will force a newly elected congress to act, rather than just let things continue on as they are. It will be difficult for the Republicans to do what they want without offending the millions of Hispanic Americans that will be voting in the next election. Obama's action put the entire Republic party into a bind, making this a great strategic move.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Obama's executive orders are legal and constitutional. Many believe he chose to address the immigration issue after the Republicans took control of Congress in order to secure more Democratic votes for the upcoming presidential election, and I do not argue that, but I believe that he has not guaranteed anything. Whether anymore people choose to vote Democratic in 2016 is dependent upon both congress's and his further actions.
ReplyDeleteI believe there are some faults in the President's plan, such as not offering the Affordable Care Act, a requirement for all U.S. citizens, to new immigrants, and attempting to "secure" borders. It is just not realistic to prevent, or deport, millions of illegal immigrants.
Overall, I agree with Obama's actions to issue an executive order because addressing the issue was necessary and proposing a resolution to Congress would have just extended the decision-making process. It is up to the Republican-controlled Congress to further act, which will determine whether or not Obama's timing was beneficial in gaining Democratic votes.
I believe President Obama's executive action was constitutional because it is within his power to do so. Many presidents before him have made executive actions; however, it is the subject of this executive action that makes it so controversial. I believe the timing of this executive action was a strategic move for the democratic party because the new Republican-controlled Congress will have to take action on this executive action, which could be detrimental for the Republican party in the 2016 election. The Republican party will have to deal with this issue without hurting the Latin American voting population. Overall, this executive action was a strategic move on President Obama's part and will most likely help the Democratic party.
ReplyDeletePresident Obamas executive action was not unconstitutional but I don't know if it could also be classified under constitutional as well. He isn't making all illegal immigrants citizens, he is however allowing them the opportunity to become a citizen and change their lifestyles. This was right to me because congress wasn't doing much and immediately as they had a change in representation he blind sided them. I believe this will allow them to work more effectively rather than giving congress time to again sit and do nothing, This could also be beneficial to US economy allowing millions of new taxpayers as well as allowing the US to monitor them more. Allowing illegal immigrants to come out from the shadows and exist as a person not only will benefit them but could bring many benefits to the US as well.
ReplyDeleteThere's no doubt that Obama's action is in fact legal and constitutional. However, it's the manner and topic with which there is such turmoil. Immigration is arguably one of the most contentious topics in today's politics. For President Obama to employ executive action is an underhanded, but a surely calculated ploy. As congress is now predominantly Republican, it's really the majority party that will have to deal with the repercussions of this installment, something that will most likely cause an outcry no matter the outcome. That leaves the democrats to be perceived in a more positive light in the next round of elections. in 2016.
ReplyDeleteObama made his move at the right time. Finally, he decides to pass a bill and this one in particular on immigration. So, that means that the 6 million or so illegal immigrants will be extremely reduced, and they can contribute to the country like all citizens through taxes and voting. Since immigrants are mostly democrats, I see this as a strategic move for Obama by gaining those votes. However, some republicans are totally against this action and think its ridiculous to allow someone who snuck into the country to stay in the country. Well, I don't know how realistic it would be to deport all these illegal immigrants.
ReplyDeleteObama's whole purpose behind his action to allow the 6 million or so immigrants into our country is merely to give them opportunity and the chance to experience being a citizen. Obama's thought process was to prioritize our use of tax fair money to remove illegal immigrants that are a threat to our natural resources because we are limited. That way, they could contribute to society and pay taxes, rather than being in hiding and not being useful. Those who sought out to get an education were better off for it and will go off to live better lives because of it.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with the president's move here. The dispute over immigration has been long winded without any sign of legislation being agreed upon. This executive action is not only legal (an executive order is indeed part of our nation's law used by many presidents over our history), but President Obama has selected his timing well. Although some disagree, this forces Congress to make some sort of decision on the issue if they wish to overturn his action. As part of his speech he even said directly to Congress, "...then pass a bill." He is well aware that this is not a permanent fix, but at least he is doing something about the issue.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama is definitely legally able to make this decision. If a President feels as though a policy must be made for safety and/or security reasons then he may pass an exucutive order that overrides Congress. As for timing I think he planned it perfectly. We are at a poin with political parties that I very hostile. Seldom is it about why a politician believes in, it is about his or her party (generally). It is in this way that he was best for to make this decision now. The new congress coming in is a majority of Republicans. Therefore it will be increasingly hard for a democratic president to pass much of anything.
ReplyDeleteEven though Obama acted within his power to act on this issue alone, it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. The Republican party has received criticism for not wanting to work with Obama, yet this is an instance when Obama doesn't want to work with the Republican Party. The Republican Party gave Obama plenty of warnings of what would happen if he would do this, yet Obama did it anyway. He planned to do it as this time because the Republican Party takes over both houses in January. He should have waited till after January to show that he is willing to work with the opposition party.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama has every right to use executive action in order to fix a system that has been broken for many years. To the critics who say that he does not have the right to do this, remember that President Obama is not he first to use executive action to pass a law and he certainly will not be the last. His timing is also completely justified. With Congress out, passing executive actions seems like the best way to pass laws without too much criticism. Waiting for Congress would have done nothing, considering they can't even pass one bill as of lately.. In all honesty, this was probably the best way to approach this issue.
ReplyDeleteObama's executive action is definitively constitutional since making these kinds of decisions falls under specific powers he holds in the government. I think this is not a bad move because in the long run, it can promote a healthier economy since there would be a new wave of a young work force that will also raise wages for existing workers. Obama's timing was good because his term is slowly running out, so he is trying to make the best out of it by making significant changes while he still can. Even if he had waited for Congress, most likely nothing would get done as always because he would not get them to agree to his ideas, so issuing this executive order now is as good timing as any will ever be.
ReplyDeleteAs head of the United States, President Obama has the legal authority to perform such an act by means of executive action. President Obama's points and reasoning are full and truly a means for a positive direction of the nation. The advantages of allowing hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants in the States the possibility to not fear deportation allowing them to come from the shadows and even promote the economy in the fact that they'll be paying taxes just like any other working class Resident or Citizen. Although congress cannot come to agreement and work together to come up with a decision, the steps that President Obama took to initiate a reform that effects the nation so greatly and to hopefully lead congress to a unified decision was truly the right ones. Thus, the planning and the timing of this execution is as good as ever.
ReplyDeleteObama had the authority to act as he did whether it was the right choice or not it was the smartest choice for him and his party. Waiting for congress may have taken more time than his term would allow seeing as of how unproductive they are(#govermentshutdown). This act was definitely part of an attempt to help persuade a more democratic victory in the next upcoming election so even if what he did was right or wrong it was the smartest move for the democratic party in 2016.
ReplyDeleteObama absolutely has the legal authority to enact executive action...the real question is: Is this the best way to deal with the illegal immigration issue? The subject of illegal immigration has been under heated debate for a while---sending this idea through the Congress would drag (as most issues do) because of
ReplyDeleteCongress' inability to compromise. In fact, currently there is an immigration bill languishing in the House of Representatives...simply waiting to be enacted. However, with respect to efficiently making and executing a decision, the executive action is effective. Is everyone in agreement with this exercise of power? No, but delaying the issue until January would not necessarily be beneficial either. The decision has been made (though I personally don't agree with it. Why reward people who have immigrated by illicit means?), we may need to dull our negative attitudes towards illegal immigration and consider the positive aspects of temporarily giving these people some legal status (more people paying taxes, paying into Social Security, etc.). However, there is another concern; there may come to be a stigma in which foreigners believe that the American government can be persuaded to act in favor of the will of its residents, including those who are illegal, if an issue becomes a large enough source of discontent. If this proves true, will the U.S see a larger increase in the number of future illegal immigrants?
I think Obama did have the power to execute this order. The executive action is legal and stays within the rules of the constitution. An execute order does not need congressional consent. I think Obama made the right decision to do this now rather than with the new congress. Obama's decision to pass the executive order was the most wise in my opinion. It would be very difficult for the democratic party to pass a bill through congress that achieved what they sought to achieve with that executive order.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama has the authority to make an executive decision and so did any president before him. He used his power to try to fix a system that has been broken for many years.His timing was perfect due the fact that congress is not in session so he will receive little criticism from them at this time. Also it is coming to end of his second term and this will help allow another democratic win.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not the executive order is constitutional or not shouldn't be in question - any criticism in that regard is simply due to prior bias towards Obama and his policies. Countless previous presidents have used the executive order to further their agendas without significant controversy, so why has Obama been so criticised? In the wake of their recent loss, this action is a wresting of power for the democratic party in preparation for the future. If he had waited for the new predominantly Republican Congress in January, it would've given them more room to work with. Since he has enacted this now, the Republican party faces the loss of an entire demographic (Latin American) of voters. Now the Democratic party has a foothold of power from which they will maneuver for the next election.
ReplyDeleteAs president, Obama's action was perfectly legal. His timing was strategic in order to strengthen the democratic party in the upcoming election. Although his action may come with backlash, it is important that he took a step towards a solution to this controversial issue. This first step may motivate others to act rather than stall and avoid the topic. While I disagree with the order, his actions may cause more people to act and start working at this issue which has been swept aside for so long. Obama was smart with the timing of his order and did so legally and within the Constitution.
ReplyDeleteI don't really understand why people are stating that they believe Obama's executive order is illegal: the second video clearly states that as long as the executive order does not exceed the bounds of the Constitution, then it will be considered legal. President Obama did not create a new law in his executive order, he expanded one (DACA), and because he is simply expanding a law and not writing and instituting something completely new (which is something the Constitution explicitly bans), he is staying within the bounds of the Constitution, making his executive order perfectly legal.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think this executive order was extremely smart on a large collection of levels, but especially economically, emotionally, and politically. I think that Obama realizes that this order, if executed, will cost our economy at first (by means of increasing border patrol, law enforcement, etc.), but he also realizes that this will most likely pay off in the long run. By specifically stating that visas would be facilitated to those who seek a STEM degree (the nation's and the world's leading source of employment), I think he is quietly implying that the individuals who come to America may eventually be expected to become working citizens of the United States in these fields. Morally, the order indicates that many families will be kept together across the nation, which is significant to a large amount of people on a personal level, including and especially the Latin-American population in this country. Also relating to the moral aspect, the timing of this order, as well as the order itself, is genius; less than a month after a huge loss by the Democratic Party, this was a huge power play by President Obama that was used to stabilize the damage that the democrats just suffered from. The Latin-American population in the United States is a key factor in the outcome of elections, as their total population is around 17% (it may seem small, but it could make a big difference), so even though President Obama wanted to empathize with many people, he most likely especially wanted to empathize with the Latino population.
As for timing in regards to the new Congress in January, I also believe that this was a smart move here as well. The president is making it clear that he wants Congress to do something, so I think he also wanted to imply that he wanted the new Congress to be ready to hit the ground running. I'm almost positive he wanted to make it clear that he wants this Congress to be prepared at the start of the first opening session to discuss major issues like immigration (and maybe even other issues he'll possibly bring up over the coming weeks as well). Again, this was an incredibly strong power play by the president by means of supporting his political party (as we're now entering his last two years in office, and the next two years could have a huge impact on the 2016 election), but it's important to mention that the message he wanted to give the incoming Congress COULD backfire: if Congress isn't prepared to discuss these issues or these issues are avoided once the new Congress is in session, then it will be a definite win for the democratic party, but if the new Republican Congress is able to meet and exceed President Obama's expectations, and they pass legislation on these issues that a majority of Americans agree with, then it's extremely possible that the GOP could clinch the next presidential election.
(Sorry it was so long!)
President Obama's action may have been constitutional, but I don't think it accomplishes much. In fact, I think that he caused more of a divide between our two political parties which will not help our production in Congress. Obama should have waited until January, because it would gain him respect for cooperating with the GOP.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama certainly has the authority to pass an executive order; nothing illegal has happened here. Timing-wise, the fact that he didn't wait for the new Congress in January shows that he - probably correctly - doesn't think that he and Congress will be able to agree on any legislation. Obama wants something to be done, and though his actions may drive an even deeper wedge between the two political parties, at least he is taking some action on what he believes to be right.
ReplyDeleteObama's actions were not unconstitutional because he was working under the authority of the executive branch and isn't misusing his authority.His timing could be deemed relevant but I honestly believe he is doing what he thinks needs to be done, he could have done it in order to better help his party but i truly think he is just trying to do as much as he can get done in the allotted time he has left in office.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a lot of the backlash from this executive action is unfounded. Legally, it is perfectly acceptable. George W. Bush set a precedent for executive orders, passing more than any other president before him and that right should not be taken away from Obama simply because he doesn't have the support of both parties. I also believe Obama's timing is irrelevant; it doesn't do much to actively help his party. These people still cannot vote. It may be a moral victory and provide some good press, but it also caused huge amounts of backlash from the Republican party. In fact, his timing is brilliant. By passing it with the current Congress in power, he actually gets less backlash because the Republicans haven't seized complete control yet. In a more general sense, I personally believe that Obama did the right thing. These people do not hurt America, they often perform jobs that we (privileged citizens) would never dream of doing, and that should not be taken for granted. It's not like this is a blanket pardon, there are caveats and requirements. In an economic sense, it is smart to downsize the efforts to deport illegal aliens. Why spend the money when you can start making them pay money to live here (harmlessly), just like they have been doing for years?
ReplyDeleteThe executive action taken by President Obama is 100% legal. Yes, this move caused controversy, but it was not unconstitutional. With the recent elections and Republicans controlling Congress, Obama made this announcement at a strategic time. I don't disagree with his plan, because many illegal immigrants want to become citizens, so this would make it easier for them. It's not possible to find and deport the millions of illegal immigrants in the country, so its better to just help them become citizens. Obama made a smart move in giving this speech.
ReplyDeleteThere is no reason that President Obama has overstepped any legal boundaries or (for that matter) even any precedents. The executive order was created in the constitution to help the executive branch fulfill the needs of the people and, as the polls from the article of the American public show, it is infact following the will of the people. Immigration actions by executive order have been used by every president going all the way back to Eisenhower, so there should be no qualms with President Obama following the same steps of presidents before him. The time to release this bill was last year when the bill was refused to be voted on by the House, waiting this long has shown great patience by the Obama administration. If the new Congress in January really cares about this bipartisan result to the issue than they will create and pass a bill through the proper channels. The president would be more than willing to sign just about any bill into law but, to quote the president, "...[Congress] pass a bill".
ReplyDeleteWhile timing-wise this decision might not he best for his career, I hardly think it matters at this point, since he is nearing the end of his term and cannot run for reelection. That being said, seeing as how it is under his jurisdiction, it seems completely fine.
ReplyDeleteObama's executive action was totally legal for him to do. It was never unconstitutional. I think his timing is not the most adequate but at least his done something about the problem. No he puts congress to actually pass a bill that would solve the legal status of many immigrants, which is what a lot of this people are all hoping for.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama's executive action was completely legal and constitutional for him to do. Although his timing is controversial because of the results of the recent mid-term elections, it's not really relevant because he's almost done with his time as President and is not fighting to please so he can be reelected.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama's executive order is legal. President Obama needed to pass something in order to help this issue. With that, the congress will need to do something, whether they pass a bill or not. If president Obama waited until January, the same outcome would have happened, but later. Therefore, his timing did not matter when talking about congress, it only happened sooner. Also, some may say the executive order will hurt his career, but he is coming to an end and cannot re-run for president. If people think this will hurt another democratic president, they must think about how far in the future that is, and there will be more things to worry about.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it may have not been a popular decision, President Obama executive order was completely constitutional. The decision came at a time when it became obvious republicans will have majority rule in Congress. He knew it would be difficult, to say the least, to pass the immigration bill, thru regular means.
ReplyDeleteThe president is able to do so and it is legal. Since the president and congress don't agree on anything, I think that he felt the need to do it himself; however, I do believe that he should have waited for the new congress to avoid an upset. The timing is irrelevant because it is legal for the president to carry out this action on his own.
ReplyDeleteI think President Obama does have the right to what he is doing. Although, it may bring the republican party against him he is doing what he can. They're many way to solve a situation and there is only one president so he makes his solution/decision. Given that he is basically delaying the deportation of immigrants it can bring more taxes in, which effecting the US. I do think what he did was strategic by basically putting all the heat on the congress and republicans it could give him some breathing room while they make a decision.
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