In the Debate Over Immigration and Deportations, the Facts Matter–Rebuttal

The August 2011 White House Blog on immigration has an article by Cecilia Munoz, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.  “Fixing the broken immigration system so that it meets America’s economic and security needs has been and continues to be a priority for President Obama.”

See My Rebuttal:

Munoz’ FULL BLOG

BLAMING CONGRESS

“Fixing the broken immigration system” seems to be one of those catchy phrases that the President uses in every speech or statement on immigration.

Munoz states the following:  “The President has laid out a clear, detailed blueprint for reform, but the only way to do what’s necessary is for Congress to act and pass bipartisan legislation the President can sign into law. Failing to act simply perpetuates a broken system. Unfortunately, as the President has said, he needs a dance partner across the aisle to move legislation forward, and so far the floor is empty.”

If you have been watching the news lately, the President has been blaming Congress for everything.   Obama blamed Congress extensively for the federal debt ceiling and now he turns to blaming Congress for immigration.  Of course, Democrats were in the majority when President Obama took office.

SECURE COMMUNITIES

Munoz blogs, “under the President’s direction, the Department of Homeland Security for the first time ever has prioritized the removal of people who have been convicted of crimes in the United States. The Secure Communities Program, which relies on a federal information sharing program that utilizes FBI fingerprint checks conducted by law enforcement officials as they fight crime in their communities, is central to this strategy.”

Removing immigrants with criminal records has always been a top priority for the government.  I do not agree with Munoz stating that this has happened for the first time.

Secure Communities and Record Deportations have been at the top of the news in the immigration community recently. Who is to blame for this:  Congress or the President?   Munoz admits it herself:  “under the President’s direction…”  None of the big news items have come at the behest of Congress.  Here are some of these big news items:

1. Federal Policy Resulting in Wave of Deportations Draws Protests

2. Secure Communities Decision Irks Immigration Reform Advocates

3. In Abrupt Shift, ICE Announces Secure Communities to be Imposed on States

4. ICE deportations by the numbers

Obama is driving the policy behind the above stories, and certainly not Congress. Obama’s strategy may be to win favor in Congress by being tough on enforcement.  However, Congress does not elect presidents.  Voters elect presidents.  Most voters are fine with the removal of criminal aliens.  However, many voters with immigrant backgrounds want immigration reform now, not after the the President’s re-election. Many might ask the President, ‘how can you say you want immigration reform and also deport record numbers of people?’

I have blogged about the changes I believe Obama can make now which would not require congressional approval. See:

OBAMA’S NEXT LIKELY MOVE IN IMMIGRATION