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11/21/2024 04:13:59 pm

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Obama Considers Immigration Policy Options Despite Possible Nationwide Backlash

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(Photo : REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque ) U.S. President Barack Obama meets with health insurance chief executives at the White House in Washington November 15, 2013.

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to act on immigration reform in the following weeks, but needs to tread carefully over growing concerns of Americans on the threat of illegal immigration poses to culture and economy, according to Reuters.

According to the Associated Press, the administration has appointed Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Munoz, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and White House Counsel Neil Eggleston to outline viable avenues Obama could take to loosen U.S. deportation policies.

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The report is set to be submitted to the President by the end of the summer.

Some observers say Obama could exert prosecutorial discretion that would allow the administration to direct prosecutors to focus deportation efforts only on individuals linked to organized crime or those with serious felony charges.

More controversially, there are speculations that officials are also considering expanding Obama's 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to include the parents of children qualified for a two-year work grant and relief from deportation.

Officials have also reportedly discussed the possibility of including parents of all U.S. citizens, covering millions of immigrants, The Hill has learned.

But while liberal and Hispanic constituents may agree with the administration's reforms, it may not be the case for most of America.

Based on an online Reuters/Ipsos poll, 70 percent of Americans said illegal immigrants pose a threat to American culture while 63 percent believe they place a strain on the economy.

A separate Reuters/Ipsos survey ranked immigration as the third most important problem facing the U.S. while a Gallup poll last month found that respondents see immigration as the top problem in the nation.

Generally, immigration is a vote-winner for Democrats - most notably with Obama who took about 70 percent of Latino votes in 2012. But even if Republican stance on immigration has alienated Hispanic voters, they do not typically vote in congressional elections, thus dulling Democratic advantage in November, Reuters reported.

Republicans would likely be energized to vote in November if Obama decides to act alone on the immigration reform, said survey respondent Chris Jackson.

Tom Vanderbur, a Denver Democrat resident, said he doesn't think Obama should act on his own on this matter.

If Obama issues his executive authority on immigration policy, "he could be handing the Senate to the GOP," said Republican strategist Ford O'Connell.

Cook Political Report analyst Jennifer Duffy believes that if Obama takes executive action, it would serve to fuel Republican claim against Obama's overreach and abuse of power.

But it seems the administration is aware of these and is cautiously taking steps to ensure that it acts with the proper legal backing.

"It remains an open question whether these proposals that are floated by a wide variety of advocates on this issue is something that falls within the president's authority to act on," said White House press secretary Josh Earnest on Monday.

"So, I'm going to let the legal experts render a judgment on that and consider what options are available to the president."

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