The President and Immigration

For John, BLUF:  We need to be careful of the Presidency becoming a Monarchy.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

From The New York Times we have an article on President Obama's Fourth of July discussion of Immigration.  This paragraph caught my attention:

The rhetoric was far more sweeping than the practical choices Obama must make in the coming months.  He has pledged to use his executive authority to strengthen border security while potentially slowing the deportation of longtime illegal immigrants with no connection to criminal behavior beyond immigration violations.

The President has been saying he is going to use his executive authority for some time.  The implication has been that if the Congress won't act, he will.  From that I take away that the President believes that if the Congress doesn't act, or doesn't act the way the President wishes, he can step in and act with his Executive Authority.  I find that to be a pernicious doctrine.  The Founding Fathers put a fence around the Presdent and his authority.  There should be no moving of the fence.

On the other hand, if the President truly and fairly has the authority to act, and he hasn't, then it is on him.  It seems like negligence on the part of the President.

On the other other hand, maybe he was just looking for an issue with which to beat up the Congress.

Regards  —  Cliff