Perhaps, we could say of this decision what Robert Kennedy once said
of the importance of full equality before the law.
Obama should have executed this decision “not because the laws of god
demand it, although they do; not because it is economically
advantageous, although it is; not because people in other countries
wish it so.” Rather, this decision should have been executed “for the
one simple basic reason that it is the right thing to do.”

Unfortunately, the policies, appointments, and decisions that Obama
has acted upon, and those upon which he has failed to act, not only
make it impossible to believe that he made this decision because it
was “the right thing to do,” but also, most plausible to believe that
he made this decision for the simple reason that it will win him some
votes.

OBAMA IS THUMBING HIS NOSE AT IMMIGRATION LAWS AND THE
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT RISK THEIR LIVES TO ENFORCE
THEM..MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD INFORM THIS CONSTITIONAL LAWYER
HE IS THE HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH…HIS JOB IS TO ENFORCE
LAW…

One of the very few good and smart things Bush did was play down the illegal immigrant issue. He knew it was the 3rd Rail for Republicans, and, frankly, I don’t think he buys into it.  Now there’s even buzz (particularly by Southern White Republicans, sons of the treasonous secessionists) to try to undo the basic 14th Amendment principle that if you are BORN in the US, you are American. Period.

It’s racist.  Nobody bitches about Russian or Slovenia or Serbian or Ukrainian “anchor babies” because they are all White, not Brown or Black. Simple and ugly.

After accelerating deportations since Bush, this is a cynical move by Obama for the Hispanic vote for 2012, but good nonetheless.

Marian Griffith:  I’m talking about the constitution, not about the merit of any amnesty program.  I would support an amnesty program for long-term residents.  But that’s not what I’m talking about.  Our constitution gives the authority to make and revise laws to congress.  Also the sole and exclusive authority to start wars, for example.  What we have is a decision by bush-cheney to ignore congress and simply start wars, take over that authority, and change the presidency into something more like a king—one person who runs everything. 

We’ve seen it in the debt discussions, healthcare, and so on.  The president is assigned certain authority, but bush-cheney, and now Obama, are ignoring the constitutional role of congress.  I’m against the expansion of the presidency into essentially a dictatorship.  It’s wrong.  Even if you agree with Obama on this particular issue, imagine what things would be like with Palin in office taking control of all authority in the federal government.

This is welcome news to me.  I have a good friend who is in deportation proceedings, hopefully this will provide an opening for him to stay.  Brought here when he was two, the United States is all he knows, all of his friends and family are here.  I am hoping this is a step toward a more humane immigration policy.  I know several people in their twenties who have grown up here and know nothing else, are not bad people but they live in a limbo land of having no legal idendity.  Sending these people back to third world countries in which they have no family, friends, or connections seems cruel to me.

What does the law say?

I don’t see this as a bold step for unauthorized migrants.  I see it as yet another unfortunate example of Obama embracing the bush-cheney concept of the Imperial Presidency, more a King than president, the one-person ruler who makes all decisions, disregards the 500 elected members of Congress, disregards the constitution which gives authority to make and revise laws (including immigration laws) to Congress.  This is not a good thing.  It’s a terrible trend.

If I was even more cynical, I would say that this entire position on immigration was formed from day one to aid in re-election.  First, Obama directs an increase in deportations, then he comes around and provides a potential group of voters (Hispanic) with a few crumbs by stopping the increased deportations that he had implemented.  It’s a lot like increasing the troops in Afghanistan by turning around and drawing down the same number to placate the anti-war base. 

Beyond that, I suspect the real reason for the change in policy is the anticipated further funding cuts to government employees and courthouses.  They simply cannot continue enforcing the laws on immigration given the staffing cuts.  Seen that way, this is just further evidence of the deterioration of our country.  Much like Mexico, our government won’t even pretend to enforce the laws.

Should unauthorized migrants be deported?  Of course they should.  Unless we put in place an amnesty provision, which we should.  But until then, any unauthorized migrant is not legally allowed to work in this country.  If they are working, they are doing an American’s job.  Part of the corporate crushing of American workers is implemented by importing millions of unauthorized migrants to take American jobs and force down wages, eliminate benefits.  It’s all part of the same package.  And don’t bother saying that we couldn’t afford lettuce otherwise, because only 3%-5% of all unauthorized migrants work in agriculture in any capacity.  The rest work in manufacturing, construction, heavy equipment, and jobs which historically were done by Americans.  You don’t have to hate immigrants in order to demand that U.S. employers only hire Americans.  It’s basic self-preservation.

Finally, isn’t it obvious that the U.S. is in the process of invading Mexico as things are, sending more and more police, military, weapons into that country, probably so Wall Street can take control of the drug trade from which they profit.  Maybe a better policy for the U.S. would be to enforce the borders, reaffirm that Mexico is an entirely separate nation, not our “little sister” whose orphans we take in as slave labor.  Honestly, if we demanded the U.S. get out of Mexico, enforce the border, send the unauthorized migrants back home, everybody would be much better off.  You want to help Mexicans have education, healthcare, housing, work?  Go to Mexico and do it.  But do not argue that it is a good policy to import people from a nation we are essentially already invading, as if we’re doing them a favor.  We’re not.

This is just a band aid to get the Latino vote in 2012. Obama knows he can’t pass any comprehensive sort of reform while unemployment remains at 9%.