The President has previously said that he would prefer to work with the US Congress in undertaking a more comprehensive immigration reform, but his chances of achieving this has been made near impossible as a result gains made by Republicans in the recently midterm elections with control of both chambers of Congress going to Republicans.
On Thursday, the President addressed the nation outlining his intentions and explaining that in the absence of cooperation from Congress he was forced to use his executive powers to provide relief to undocumented immigrants, but only within boundaries of the law.
It is widely expected that the executive orders in question will build upon President Obama’s previous executive 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, popularly known as the DREAM Act, by providing deportation relief to undocumented parents of US citizens and permanent residency holders. Millions of undocumented persons who qualify for President Obama’s immigration relief program will be also be eligible to receive work permits.
International students with graduate degrees in specialized fields are also amongst groups that will benefit from President Obama’s executive orders.
US Republican lawmakers, however, have expressed their anger at The President’s use of his executive authorities on the matter, claiming that the moves were unconstitutional and were the result of political calculations designed to secure significant support from immigrant groups, particularly an emerging Latin American political base.
"Just as with Obamacare, the action the President is proposing isn't about solutions," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor Thursday. "It isn't about compassion. It seems to be about what a political party thinks would make for good politics." McConnell added.
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