Amnesty by Executive order

[Pooky 3,783]

GOP Lawmakers Warn of Administration Plan to Grant Amnesty to Illegal Immigrants

Published June 23, 2010

Eight Republican senators and an independent group that supports tighter limits on immigration are warning that the Obama administration is drafting a plan to "unilaterally" issue blanket amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants as it struggles to win support in Congress for an overhaul of immigration laws.

The senators who wrote the White House on Monday say they are concerned that the administration is readying a "Plan B" in case a comprehensive reform bill cannot win enough support to clear Congress.

"It seems more real than just bullying (Republicans) into a bill -- that it's a plan that they can actually put forward ... circumventing Congress," an aide told FoxNews.com on Wednesday.

In their letter, the senators -- Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; David Vitter, R-La.; Jim Bunning, R-Ky.; Saxby Chambliss, Ga.; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; James Inhofe, R-Okla.; and Thad Cochran, R-Miss. -- urge the president to "abandon" what they say is a move to "unilaterally extend either deferred action or parole to millions of illegal aliens in the United States."

"Such a move would further erode the American public's confidence in the federal government and its commitment to securing the borders and enforcing the laws already on the books," they wrote.

Deferred action and parole, which give illegal immigrants the ability to seek a work permit and temporary legal status, are normally granted on a case-by-case basis. But the aide said the lawmakers have learned from "sources" that the administration is considering flexing its authority to grant the status on a mass basis.

Numbers USA, an organization that presses for lower immigration levels along with humanitarian treatment of illegal immigrants, has started a petition to the president expressing "outrage" at the alleged plan.

Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations with Numbers USA, said she's been hearing for weeks from "sources close to the Democratic leadership" in both chambers that administration officials are discussing whether the Department of Homeland Security could direct staff to grant "amnesty" for all illegal immigrants in the country.

"They're trying to figure out ways around a vote," she said.

"Any attempt to force an amnesty on the American people using this underhanded method smacks of despotism," reads the fax the group is urging supporters to sign.

The White House has not responded to a request for comment.

The Department of Homeland Security estimated last year that 10.8 million undocumented residents live in the United States; other estimates have ranged higher. Any move to grant blanket legal status, even temporary, would raise questions about how Homeland Security would be able to handle the caseload. Jenks said Congress certainly wouldn't grant the administration the funding for more caseworkers.

The purported discussions of a blanket amnesty come in the middle of several concurrent and heated debates over illegal immigration. The recently signed immigration law in Arizona has divided the country, with some states trying to replicate the state's tough legislation and other jurisdictions boycotting the state in protest. The Obama administration plans to file a court challenge.

Democrats, meanwhile, have been trying to round up support for an overhaul bill in Congress, and the Interior Department is facing renewed criticism from Republican lawmakers over restrictions it places on Border Patrol officers policing the border on federal lands. Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., shocked several Arizona residents last week when he told them that Obama had said he would not beef up border security because it would leave Republicans without an incentive to pass broader immigration reforms.

Jenks said the talks about Homeland Security allowing illegal immigrants to stay are "serious."

Under the law, immigration officials can grant deferred action to temporarily postpone removing an illegal immigrant from the country. That status does not offer a guarantee that they won't face deportation, but Jenks said illegal immigrants granted parole are often allowed to seek permanent legal status.

If a "Plan B" is being discussed, it's unclear how far along the talks might be. Another GOP Senate aide said the discussions started after Sens. ####### Durbin, D-Ill., and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., called on Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in April to stop deportations of undocumented students who could earn legal status under a bill they introduced.

A Senate Democratic aide said the Obama administration never responded to the April letter.

Fox News

So, despite the overwhelming majority of the USA being opposed to an illegal immigrant amnesty and despite the fact that this administration will never get enough votes to get amnesty through Congress, the White House still appears intent on forcing an amnesty, covering a minimum of 12 million illegal immigrants, upon the American people.

If this is true, and I'll wait for some non-Fox corroboration before I believe it 100%, this would be a gross abuse of power by this administration and put on full display their contempt for the political process in this country.

Look to see this story get a whole lot of airtime in the near future.

Edited June 23, 2010 by Pooky

[Darnell 8,478]

grrrr..

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

if this happens, can we do a recall election?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

if it happens, there will be war declared on this administration.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

just ran across this one

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I don't think the President has the authority.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I think they will give them amnesty, citizenship and register them to vote before November.

Does anyone think this is a representative Republic anymore?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I don't think the President has the authority.

Does it matter? Who would that be important to? Illegal immigrants? Obama? Maybe a court, but when? After the amnesty is given? How many years? What happens when Obama appeals the amnesty or simply just issues a new amnesty? How do you un-do an amnesty? Is there something you can "click on"? "Un-do amnesty" link?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I don't think the President has the authority.

He's already done a lot of things he has no authority to do because no one who can (until the judge who halted his drilling moratorium) will challenge him.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

He's already done a lot of things he has no authority to do because no one who can (until the judge who halted his drilling moratorium) will challenge him.

today he said ** you to that judge and is re-issuing the moratorium. Don't put anything past this piece of ####### President.

[trillium13 84]

I think they will give them amnesty, citizenship and register them to vote before November.

Does anyone think this is a representative Republic anymore?

Does it really come down to this? I don't want to be naive, but I don't want to believe that.

Then again, I can't see any good reason to do something that I would imagine the majority of US citizens would get quite up in arms about.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

today he said ** you to that judge and is re-issuing the moratorium. Don't put anything past this piece of ####### President.

I know. FU is this guy's mantra. He says it to everyone, Arizona, anti-tax and spend Americans, those who appreciate the rule of law, border enforcers, our allies, you name it. He loves illegals, the unions and himself. It's a very short list.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Does it really come down to this? I don't want to be naive, but I don't want to believe that.

Then again, I can't see any good reason to do something that I would imagine the majority of US citizens would get quite up in arms about.

you mean like pass some horseshit healthcare bill nobody wanted using every back handed trick ever used in US politics at one time? or not allowing states to attempt to save or clean up the gulf coastal waters during this oil spill? oh yah, don't forget. we're 60+ days in to the spill & we still don't have the skimmers spread across the gulf offered up by other countries 'trying' to keep up with whats pouring out. don't kid yourself. this guy has already decided to throw away any chance of the dems remaining in control of washington or a second term in the white house to advance his ideologies.

but, pooky is right we need to 'wait for some non-Fox corroboration before we believe it 100%'....i'm not putting it past him though

[SMOKE 1,426]

I don't think the President has the authority.

i hope you're right

[evli1966 88]

I don't think the President has the authority.

I believe he does not have the power to grant amnesty until they are officially charged.

He would need an act of congress to be passed that granted citizenship to the Illegals; which would be dubbed amnesty.

However

HOWEVER

HOWEVER

He could have the idiot Attorney General start mass charging the Illegals and once charged they could be given amnesty or granted a presidential pardon if the guilty plead out.

So there are some very scary tactics and unethical ways he could abuse his position.

I truly think Obama doesnt think the Legal citizens will stand up to his ARROGANT A$Z