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Poll: Was Obama Correct to Stop Deporting Some Illegal Immigrants?

Surprise announcement by Homeland Security will allow some residents to stay in the United States if they came here as children.

 

In a move expected to affect up to 800,000 people, President Barack Obama announced Friday a plan to allow some young illegal immigrants the ability to apply for temporary legal status and work permits .

The move would stop deportations for undocumented people under certain conditions. To be eligible - they must have come to the United States under the age of 16 and lived in the US for at least five years. They must be in school, have graduated from high school, or have been honorably discharged from the US military. In addition, those applying must not have been convicted of any felony or significant misdemeanors.

The move raised the ire of many immediately - including one reporter who heckled the president during the speech. But Obama said of the illegal immigrants,  "They are Americans in their hearts, in their minds, in every single way but one -- on paper." The president said the move is not "amnesty" and encouraged Congress to pass a broader immigration bill.

Some see the move as a political one designed to mollify Latino voters in the upcoming presidential election.

What do you think of the president's actions?

Dave Heglund June 18, 2012 at 10:29 pm
To David Vaccaro, The founding fathers tossed around the following phrase: "a free and open exchange of ideas..." I suspect they envisioned a civil exchange between thoughtful people, not name-callng.
Tell you what, I won't call YOU a jerk if you don't call ME stupid.
Paul J. DiBartolo June 18, 2012 at 11:57 pm
If Mr. Calderon thinks Mr. Obama's idea is such a great idea maybe he should do the same with regards to the influx of immigrants into Mexico from the south. Oh wait, that would make too much sense.
Paul J. DiBartolo June 19, 2012 at 12:07 am
Dave Heglund, while I agree with your sentiments, if you do your due diligence with regards to our history I think you will find quite the opposite of what you say.
Consider that the writers of the Federalist Papers used the pseudonym 'Publius' to conceal their identities. And then there was the politically-motivated Aaron Burr-Alexander Hamilton duel. Finally, investigate the smears made about Rachel Jackson, Andrew Jackson's wife, and find out who he eventually blamed for her death which occurred prior to the beginning of his term. It always helps to clear things up with a little fact finding.
Ric June 19, 2012 at 01:44 am
Liz, if I am wrong, I would appreciate you EXACTLY quoting Mitt Witt's words where he says that he would repeal Obama's plan to stop these deportations.
David V, get a clue. I am not Roland or anyone else but me. Gawd almighty your record of always being wrong is still intact.
Ric June 19, 2012 at 01:48 am
Did senior Calderon say anything about stopping Mexico's deportation of illegals from Central and South America?
Jeff June 19, 2012 at 03:47 am
So it appears we have a resounding right-wing echo chamber cooking here. So I'll toss out one of Hannity's regular segments... "What would Reagan do?"
(Hmmm... I seem to remember something about "Amnesty" for illegals in the country prior to 1982. Sad to say, but this is no longer your father's Republican party.)
Jennifer S June 19, 2012 at 06:02 am
It's not like the illegal immigrants can vote so the "minority" vote doesn't feel like the reason for this decision.
Ric June 19, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Sorry, you are wrong. Most states do not bother to check voter eligibility so many illegals do vote. If you recall, the democrat party is aggressively fighting all attempts at checking voter eligibility. In New Jersey, you do not supply any documents proving citizenship.
I hope you do not think elections in big cities like Philadelphia and Chicago are run honestly I bet if I illegally entered Mexico and then tried to vote, I would probably be shot.
Porterincollingswood June 19, 2012 at 12:34 pm
I think you guys are over-complicating it. Obama essentially stole Marco Rubio's (a top choice for VP) idea for a compromise DREAM Act, one that Romney was slowly edging towards and would have been key to his strategy to broaden his appeal. Mitt was going there, make no mistake.
At the same time, Obama needed to increase Hispanic support and enthusiasm to win swing states like CO, FL, NM, NV, etc. Mission accomplished. IMO, Romney is over-relying on his "say nothing and let Obama sink" strategy. He's fallen behind events and failed to take the initiative, and this was a big miss. I have no idea how Obama's approval numbers are this high, and they clearly aren't gong to crater the way Mitt needs them to. But, as always, Mitt's biggest issue is his "severe" conservative positions he took during the primaries, when he was scared to death of Rick Perry. His hard line stance on immigration then (deportations, border fence) is very difficult to alter now without reinforcing his reputation as a flip-flopper and opportunist. He's now forced either... (A) to side with Rubio (and perhaps make him his VP), and therefore tarnish his brand (Kerry-style) with his base (who are anti-immigration and are highly suspect of him). OR (B) keep tacking to the right, make a more conservative VP choice, and have no shot at the Hispanic vote he'll need to win. Those are tough choices, and now he's behind the 8 ball on this issue.
Porterincollingswood June 19, 2012 at 12:49 pm
PS - and I can think of nothing more wishy-washy or Kerry-like than making this while debate about "the way it was done". American voters don't respond to nuanced discussion of governmental procedure, and most don't know what the various branches of government are supposed to do anyway. We know this.
This is about amnesty, plain and simple. As a concept. And Romney needs to pick a side and live with the consequences.
Crass Marrocco June 19, 2012 at 01:27 pm
Ric is 100% correct. I bet some of you think felons and dead people can't vote too. Just read this morning: voter board mails registration form to dead dog. Voter fraud is treason to me. If there is one prosecuted case, there is 10,000 instances not prosecuted.
David Vaccaro June 19, 2012 at 01:57 pm
Ric/Roland W.,
You should enter Mexico...illegally. :-)
Zuzu June 19, 2012 at 02:03 pm
The parents of these children are circumventing the system. Their family should not benefit from their illegal behavior in anyway. "its for the kids" is really old. If their parents thought that much about providing for their children they would follow the established law. What kind of message does that send? Your family broke the law but its ok we'll give you all a pass. If you let these kids stay and fast track them to citizenship do you really think the family will get deported? NO, they'll all stay and keep receiving the benefits they broke the law to get.
Porterincollingswood June 19, 2012 at 02:05 pm
Please cite the investigation that proves this.
Crass Marrocco June 19, 2012 at 02:17 pm
There is no investigation. It is the third rail of politics. Remember a few years ago the first Latino Attorney General was chased out of Washington with pitchforks by democrats because of the pursuit of voter fraud prosecution?
Porterincollingswood June 19, 2012 at 03:00 pm
No investigation? At all? When faced with mass treason aimed at subverting America there is NO investigation?
Not by the Democrats? Or Republicans? Ever? When their parties held the White House and Congress? Maybe they just forgot? No investigation in deep-blue Vermont? Or deep-red Alabama? Not in Mississippi? Or California? Nowhere? Nowhere at all? Puzzling.
Ric June 19, 2012 at 07:51 pm
This link is to a picture of Obama bowing to Calderon. I am shocked. No American president should ever bow to a foreign leader especially the head of a broken down third world nation.
http://weaselzippers.us/2012/06/18/pic-of-the-day-obama-bowing-again/
karen June 20, 2012 at 07:06 pm
I agree with you TOTALLY!!! Whatever happened to AMERICA?? If you want to be an AMERICAN, come here the right way and learn ENGLISH and the AMERICAN Ways!! Don't change MY AMERICA, I don't go to your country and try to change it!! I would never go to another country and not know the language or expect them to become AMERICA..........IT'S NOT RIGHT......AND OBAMA DOESN'T CARE ABOUT AMERICA.....JUST VOTES!!! WE NEED TO GET AMERICA BACK!!! My ancestors came here legally and learned the language and the ways of America and were PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. Obama says the illegals are Americans except for on paper, What Is He Talking About? If they were Americans they would speak ENGLISH and RESPECT OUR FLAG AND OUR BELIEFS........THEY DON'T!!!! They just want to make America into their country, WAKE UP AMERICA!!!
Ric June 21, 2012 at 01:20 am
Karen, I agree with you. If I illegally immigrated to France and could not even speak French, I would be caught right away and deported. If the illegal immigrants think so little of American values that they could not even bother to learn English, then they need to get back to where they came from.
I would like to add those who say” WE ARE A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS” are wrong. Most American citizens were born here, just like their parents, and grandparents. In my case even my great-grandparents were born here. I am proud to be an American citizen.
David Vaccaro June 21, 2012 at 02:15 am
Ric,
We are a nation of immigrants. The nation is barely 235 years old. You are special...you have 2 sets of everything being that you have a split personality(Ric/Roland W).
karen June 21, 2012 at 02:59 pm
Ric, you are right!! David, you are not!! Where you born here or did you migrate here illegally? If you were born here of legal parents then you are an AMERICAN. If you were born here of illegal parents then you are an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT. It's pretty easy to understand, cut and dry....... I was born here my parents and grandparents were born here, their parents came over here legally. I am an AMERICAN with Italian and Irish ancestors! They learned the language and the ways, not like today, is it? My daughter-in-law is from Germany, but guess what? She came here legally, she speaks English and told me that she wouldn't have come if she didn't know English. She is going through becoming a Citizen of AMERICA the RIGHT WAY!! There is nothing wrong with people that want to be an AMERICAN, just do it the RIGHT WAY!! What is so hard about this... Don't give things away free to illegals and they will go back where they came from and if they really want to be an AMERICAN, then they will do it the RIGHT WAY! Everything our government gives to illegals is taking from our own. I real feel that the government doesn't care about REAL AMERICANS AT ALL and This is VERY SAD!!
Paul J. DiBartolo June 21, 2012 at 03:05 pm
>> "Obama essentially stole Marco Rubio's (a top choice for VP) idea..."
One big, big difference. Rubio would have done it through Congress and established it as law as per the Constitution; Obama just stepped over the legislative Branch and attempted to establish law on his own - not his job. Well, we already know he doesn't think he should have to wait for the Legislative branch. How's it feel to be king, Barry? And here I thought we dealt with that issue back in 1776.
Porterincollingswood June 21, 2012 at 03:30 pm
Paul, you are correct. I'm just not sure that an attack on the procedural grounds is going to be a winner for Romney.
The Executive Branch has been doing this off and on for years, particularly the past 12. Americans are used to it. Sad, yes.
Paul J. DiBartolo June 21, 2012 at 04:03 pm
I can't say I agree or disagree with what you say, Porter. It would be interesting and telling to know exactly which decisions you speak of and see how they compare to the current situation. Andrew Napolitano wrote a pretty good piece on Obama's recent actions on immigration policy (law) that can be seen here:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/20/can-obama-rewrite-federal-law/ Of interest: "If the president can rewrite federal laws that he doesn’t like, there is no limit to his power. Then, he will not be a president - he will be a king."
Cinnacide June 25, 2012 at 06:18 pm
Don't like Obama? Vote Romney '12 for Nuclear War, 'cause God intended this Earth to be for Americans.
WDNeedsHelp July 18, 2012 at 04:47 pm
The poll is not 50/50 if you bother to read it. 63% are against illegal immigration and 32% were for the "kids" of illegals to be granted some kind of amnesty. There are laws against illegal immigration and the Nobama Administration and DOJ have without Congressional approval decided to uphold those laws. Hate to tell you they all swore an oath to uphold those laws and to now pull this I feel is grounds for removal from office fo all of them. Hard to do though when the folks doing the "watching" are just as guilty. Viva La Revolution !!!
Mike August 1, 2012 at 04:42 am
@Ric What about the children that were "forced" to come here legally? Should they be returned to their home countries? Should they be forced to live a life that could have been much greater?
Mike August 1, 2012 at 04:53 am
@Zuzu Just want to say a few things.
Of course it is for the kids. How great do you think the benefits are? Why so angry, do you think an immigrant is better off than you are? And like JR Westwood said "not everyone has the choice to immigrate LEGALLY"
Mike August 1, 2012 at 05:06 am
Mexico is no longer under third world country status and is no longer led by Calderon.
chris August 1, 2012 at 05:28 am
You tell em Reverend Wright !

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