A decision by the Obama administration that it would no longer seek the deportation of most young illegal immigrants has set off the expected signs of support from his party members in Florida.
Meanwhile, Republicans from the Sunshine State are equally outraged that Obama, who they have long decried as soft on immigration, would again implement an executive order without congressional approval.
The president has shown repeatedly that he has no regard for the Constitution or separation of powers, wrote U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta. He seems to view the Constitution not as the great ruling document that has held our republic together and helped our country prosper, but rather as an obstacle to be stepped around whenever it inconveniences him.
Our Founding Fathers created a system of checks and balances precisely to prevent one person from acting as a king against the will of the people. President Obama may not like having to work with a Republican House of Representatives, but the fact is, the American people sent us here in 2010 to put a stop to his far-left agenda.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, declared that the White House election-year policy shift will make long-term, meaningful immigration reform more difficult.
There is broad support for the idea that we should figure out a way to help kids who are undocumented through no fault of their own, but there is also broad consensus that it should be done in a way that does not encourage illegal immigration in the future, Rubio stated in a release. This is a difficult balance to strike, one that this new policy, imposed by executive order, will make harder to achieve in the long run.
Todays announcement will be welcome news for many of these kids desperate for an answer, but it is a short-term answer to a long-term problem. And by once again ignoring the Constitution and going around Congress, this short-term policy will make it harder to find a balanced and responsible long-term one.
The new rule comes as both parties are fighting for the Latin vote, particularly in key swing states including Colorado, Florida and New Mexico. The edge is currently on the side of the president, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Telemundo poll from mid-May.
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, tweeted Does anyone think this DoJ and Pres Pander were enforcing the law BEFORE today's announcement? Not taking the bait.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, in a memorandum to immigration enforcement officials, wrote that immigrants who were illegally brought into the U.S. as children "lacked the intent to violate the law."
Under the White House proposal, immigration officials would be directed to defer action for two years on individuals under the age of 30 that arrived in the U.S. prior to their 16th birthday; are in school, graduate high school or served in the military; have been in the country for five continuous years; and have a clean criminal record.
U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, defended the presidents decision to defer the deportations, instead allowing them to apply for work permits, as meaningful steps toward a more rational, humane approach to immigration enforcement.
Rather than wasting limited resources deporting productive, hard-working young people, we should focus our efforts on those individuals who pose a threat to our national security and public safety, Hastings stated in a release.
These young people came to this country through no choice of their own and are being forced to pay the price for decisions that werent theirs to make. They have been educated in our schools, they have become valued members of our communities, and they stand to make a positive impact on our nations future. They epitomize the American Dream, and deportation is not only a loss for them, but a loss to our country as a whole.
As a proud supporter of the DREAM Act, I recognize that this executive order does not go far enough. Congress must do its job and finally pass the DREAM Act as well comprehensive legislation to reform our broken immigration system.
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami, also applauded the policy statement.
We are talking about good kids who learned and ingrained American values young adults who want to become doctors, nurses, lawyers, scientists, engineers, small business owners, teachers, firefighters and police officers, Wilson stated. They want nothing more than to give back to the country that gave them an opportunity to get an education and, in some cases, to serve in the Coast Guard and Armed Forces defending the U.S. and our freedom.
As the sponsor of the Florida DREAM Act when I was in the state senate, I applaud this announcement by the Obama administration, and I look forward to when we pass comprehensive immigration reform.
A spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Orlando, who is seeking re-election, released a more generalized response.
Sen. Nelson supports tough, fair, practical immigration laws that require people who want to become citizens to obey our laws, learn English, and get in line for citizenship. He also supports the Dream Act, which says no law should punish children because their parents brought them here. If a child of an immigrant has worked hard and graduated from high school, they should able to go into the military or attend college.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or call 772-215-9889.
