Marathon Pundit: Stealth amnesty: Obama halts 300,000 deportations

Friday, August 19, 2011

Stealth amnesty: Obama halts 300,000 deportations

Open-borders protesters, 8/3/11

I saw a group of about 100 open-borders protesters outside Chicago's Aragon Ballroom--the site of a 50th birthday party for President Obama. Earlier this week there were protesters--probably the same people--holding a rally outside Obama's Chicago campaign headquarters.

As the Washington Times tells us, when he wants to--Obama is able to listen.

Bowing to pressure from immigrant rights activists, the Obama administration said Thursday that it will halt deportation proceedings on a case-by-case basis against illegal immigrants who meet certain criteria, such as attending school, having family in the military or having primary responsible for other family members' care.

The move marks a major step for President Obama, who for months has said he does not have broad categorical authority to halt deportations and said he must follow the laws as Congress has written them.

But in letters to Congress on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she does have discretion to focus on "priorities" and that her department and the Justice Department will review all ongoing cases to see who meets the new criteria.

"This case-by-case approach will enhance public safety," she said. "Immigration judges will be able to more swiftly adjudicate high-priority cases, such as those involving convicted felons."