President Obama stands on the precipice of making history not unlike President Lincoln did when he considered the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves. Like the slaves, the undocumented living in the United States are treated like second hand citizens. Of course, the undocumented arrived here on their own seeking a better life while the slaves were forced against their will.
Still, both are similar in the long standing debate over the fundamental rights of human beings. Will President Obama be compared to Lincoln as a liberator? Obama is considering giving the parents of U.S. citizens and others who arrived here and were later granted Deferred Action under DACA, a deferred action of their own. This deferred action would include work permits and the ability to obtain state driver’s licenses.
Clearly, President Obama cannot convey citizenship to anyone as Congress controls naturalization, but he can extend prosecutorial discretion and expand deferred action. Although opponents of immigration reform plan to challenge any executive action Obama takes on immigration, there is probably little they can do to stop it.
Most likely those who have committed crimes in the United States will be unable to take advantage of the programs President Obama comes up with. Still, millions of people who have been living in the shadows will be able to come out and contribute to our economy without fear of being arrested by the immigration authorities.
To read the article this blog is based on, click HERE.
