President Obama's new policy on deporting illegal immigrants won't just help those immigrants without criminal records. It could help Obama as well.
The policy, announced by the Department of Homeland Security Thursday, places priority on deporting criminal aliens and other priority cases. Those who arrived in the United States as children, received college educations or served in the military will be less likely to get deported.
The decision is sure to be reviewed by Congress. In particular, Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, argues the administration is overstepping its authority by picking and choosing among those who entered the country illegally.
But one thing seems clear: The move will help Obama among Hispanics, many of whom have long argued that he was being unnecessarily tough on deportation policy.
The administration has boasted until now that it's deporting illegal immigrants at unprecedented rates: nearly 400,000 in each of the past two years, compared to lesser numbers during the George W. Bush administration.
But fewer than half of them had criminal records involving drugs, immigration laws, traffic offenses and other crimes.
"I have been vocal in my criticism of the president and his administration over the dramatic increase in deportations on his watch and have traveled the country urging him to use his power under existing law to do what he can to help," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. "This is the Barack Obama I have been waiting for and that Latino and immigrant voters helped put in office to fight for sensible immigration policies."
Poster Comment:
Smart Politics? Yes
Smart Policy? N/A
