Reception of New Immigration Rules

For John, BLUF:  This isn't about immigration reform.  This is about picking a fight with Congress.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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This article from The International New York Times suggests President Obama's plan for dealing with illegal immigrants, announced this last Thursday, has not been smoothly received everywhere.  The Reporter is Julia Preston and the article, datelined 21 November, is "As Immigration Rules Shift, Migrants’ Joy Is Tempered".

First, there is the process of providing papers to illegal immigrants.

Under the president’s new program, undocumented immigrants who are parents of American citizens or legal permanent residents and have been in the United States for more than five years will receive three-year deportation deferrals and work permits.  They have to submit fingerprints, pass criminal background checks and pay an application fee of $465.

So, if you are an illegal immigrant ("undocumented" in the words of the Reporter and the Editor) and you meet the criteria you get a three year pass on deportation.  Then what?  Maybe those nasty old Republicans in the US House of Representatives will make it permanent.

I see from the article that fixing the problem could take up to six months to begin.

Administration officials said they will begin accepting application “no later” than May, but have given few details of how the process will work.

That isn't helpful to folks who have lost jobs recently because their "irregular" status has been uncovered.  Where is the humanitarian effort in that?

Finally, there are those who followed the rules and came here by the book.

And immigrants who came here legally expressed a sense of betrayal, wondering if foreigners who did not follow the rules were gaining advantages they did not have.

I think in terms economic advantages, coming here legally was a good thing.  And, no fear of the neighbors turning you in to the Immigration Authorities.  On the other hand, what about the person who has been trying to follow the rules and was told that they have to wait until next year.  Where is the equity in that?  This effort by the Administration seems to reward corruption.

The key question is, is this move by the Administration legal?  I am willing to give the Administration the benefit of the doubt.  That said, if it is legal, what incompetence has caused the Administration to delay implementation for some five and a half years?  What insensitivity let the bureaucrats and their political appointee bosses drag their heels on this?  Pretty ugly, if you ask me.  Unless, of course, it is all about picking a fight with a new Republican Congress, in which case it is brilliant.

Moe Lane is correct.

Regards  —  Cliff