Winning Immigration At The Grassroots: Defeating Amnesty and Restoring Common Sense

A Sponsored Report Prepared By Advocacy Department An amnesty plan fit for an emperor, not America By Dan Stein

resident Obama’s executive order on amnesty is long and complex. Take a speed reading course and here’s what you can find out: no- body goes home unless the president decides you are unworthy of Phis beneficence. The president has drawn arbitrary lines in the sand. Some people have to have been here five years or more, others not. He did not include parents of those who received earlier Obama amnesty grants, but instead made sure other relatives got his special treatment. Can this possibly be a power del- egated to the president by Congress? Of course not. It leaves the plenary power of Congress to set immigra- tion limits and standards shivered in fragments, along with our system of checks and balances. Forget Mr. Obama’s claims of fine legal distinctions or the bogus ex- cuses about limited resources. These

t men amnesty terms really are arbitrary. The president operates on a political whim, pursuing whatever he thinks is feasible politically. Mr. Obama is very close to organi- o cacy D epar zations and people who want to de- stroy U.S. immigration controls. He is, as Saul Alinsky called it, close to the “scene of conflict.” The famous radical can stop him, and this cannot be sus- and law abiding Americans. Mr. But they must do more. They must said, “One’s concern with the ethics tained in a democracy. Obama knows this. realize the severity of the threat, the of means and ends varies inversely Here is the core of this argument: In responding, the Republican express loss of national self-determi- with one’s distance from the scene of The administration believes no one leadership is already confused and nation indicated by a wholesale col- the conflict.” Mr. Obama isn’t near the has legal standing to challenge him in fearful of being out-maneuvered again. lapse in the . conflict; he now is the conflict. court, so his distinctions are purely Impeachment is neither contemplated Congress has been assaulted, de- nor threatened. Announced so far? meaned and marginalized. The presi- Possible defunding and, later, passing dent will do more and more, in an Whatever the new Republican Congress does, it must bills he might veto? effort to further embarrass, humiliate Whatever the new Republican and provoke the Republican leader- do so with the expectation that Mr. Obama is not done Congress does, it must do so with the ship. It must confront this president, with his radical overhaul of U.S. immigration policy by expectation that Mr. Obama is not and assert the broad principles that n T i mes A dv th e Washi n gto by t P repared executive fiat. The sweeping amnesty he announced done with his radical overhaul of U.S. underscore our constitutional sys- on Nov. 20 was only the culmination of a long series immigration policy by executive fiat. tem. Congress must do so with an The sweeping amnesty he announced eye toward what will surely be these of orders and decisions gutting immigration law on Nov. 20 was only the culmination next two years “a long train of abuses enforcement that included the 2012 Deferred Action for of a long series of orders and deci- and usurpations, pursuing invariably

N TI MES AS HI N GTO Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program – another massive sions gutting immigration law en- the same Object (that) evinces a de- unlegislated amnesty that went largely unchallenged. forcement that included the 2012 De- sign to reduce them under absolute A S p o ns red R ep r TH E W ferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Despotism.”

| (DACA) program – another massive The precedent sought by Presi- The president is now outside the political, not legal. He could just de- unlegislated amnesty that went largely dent Obama will make the nation law and the Constitution. He believes cree everyone gets to stay with work unchallenged. He has continued this ungovernable, in time. No nation in he cannot be stopped. That’s why, cards. He could decree unlimited ben- outrage nonstop since then. His new recorded history has survived the sus- despite disclaimers to the contrary, efits for them all. He believes no court executive order with be followed by tained loss of border control. Despite he is acting like an emperor. The core will review his policies. He may be more and more illegal actions over the the ill-named myth of American ex- threat to the United States is that his right, but those who oppose him will next two years. ceptionalism, neither can the United administration believes it can be law- do whatever they can to prove him Naturally, the new Congress must States. less so long as no alien is denied a wrong. pass an explicit bar to try to prevent benefit. The president can admit who- The longer an alien remains in the the president from carrying out these Dan Stein is the President of Federa- ever he wants; he can grant amnesty country illegally – especially with executive orders. He will veto, of tion for American Immigration Reform to whoever he wants; he can give out granted benefits such as work docu- course, and in doing so prove this has (FAIR), a nonpartisan, nonprofit

3 • 2014 • D ecember Wednesday American jobs to whomever he wants; ments – the more difficult it is to ever nothing to do with his claims of lim- membership organization that pro- he can force taxpayers to pay for all remove them. Delay works in favor of ited resources and everything to do motes reforming U.S. immigration poli- 2 manners of benefits. He thinks no one the illegal alien and against taxpayers with trying to re-engineer this society. cies to serve . TRUE Immigration Reform: Everyone agrees that our dysfunctional immigration system must be fi xed, but efforts by our lawmakers have ultimately failed for one simple reason: the interests of the American people have been consistently ignored. So, while many lawmakers say they support immigration reform, the real question is whether they support TRUE immigration reform: policies that place the interests of the American people fi rst. Protecting the interests of Americans is the reason our immigration laws exist. Excessive immigration harms American workers, taxpayers, and our most vulnerable citizens. That’s why we have to set and enforce limits. No more amnesties. We can create clever euphemisms, but the only people we will be fooling are ourselves. Any policy that legalizes illegal aliens is amnesty and will lead to even more illegal immigration. This includes any “pathways to citizenship” or legalization programs that grant green cards or work visas. Secure our borders. Only 13 percent of our borders are under “operational control.” That is simply unacceptable. To get the job done, we must use all the tools at our disposal. We must put more boots on the ground, add infrastructure (such as fencing) and implement proven technology to reduce the fl ow of illegal aliens across the border. End visa overstays. Approximately 30-40 percent of illegal aliens are aliens who entered the U.S. legally, but overstayed their visas. To end this practice, we must add Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and fi nally implement a biometric entry-exit system at all ports of entry—a system already required by law.

Stop the hiring of illegal workers. Unless we remove the incentives to enter the A S PO NS O RED R e po rt Pre p U.S. illegally, we will not stop illegal immigration. We must eliminate the jobs magnet by requiring all employers use E-Verify and demand rigorous worksite enforcement that holds both employers and illegal workers accountable. Robustly and uniformly enforce our immigration laws. Policies that direct law enforcement to ignore violations of our laws undermine the rule of law and are inherently unjust to law-abiding legal immigrants. We must enforce our existing immigration laws, eliminate fraud throughout the system, and prohibit the adoption of policies by state/local governments that encourage illegal immigration or provide benefi ts to illegal aliens. Enforcement doesn’t ared by the Washingt require mass deportation. If we enforce our laws and remove the incentives to remain here, many illegal aliens will go home on their own. Implement a merit-based immigration system. Our immigration system should choose immigrants based on an objective assessment of who is most likely to benefi t the economic and social interests of our nation. End family chain migration. Family-based immigration must be limited to spouses and unmarried minor children. Entitlements for extended family migration lead to an immigration system that is not based on merit, runs on o n T imes A dv autopilot and fosters exponential growth in immigration. Support the American worker. American workers are the best and most

productive in the world. They are eager to work. What they need is the THE WASHINGTON TIMES

opportunity to compete for jobs at fair wages, not unfair competition D e p o cacy created by massive guest worker programs. In addition, just because we could benefi t from some skilled immigration doesn’t mean we should rubber stamp visas for every applicant with certain skills. We should develop

and encourage our own STEM professionals, not discourage them by artment fl ooding the labor market. Limit overall immigration. We are a nation of over 315 million people. We

need to consider how much we want to grow and how that growth will affect | Wednesday • D ecember 3 • 2014 jobs, our environment, resources and quality of life in America.

3 Obama’s Lawlessness the Greatest Obstacle to Immigration Reform By

omplete contempt for the country, the Congress, and the Constitution is the only explanation for President Obama’s decision to offer amnesty to millions of peo- ple here illegally by presidential fiat. CVoters on Nov. 4 gave the presi- dent the opposite of a mandate. They installed his political opponents in virtually every office that was seriously contested, and in many that had been thought incontestable. Republicans now hold a near-historic majority in the House, a likely majority of 54 in the Senate, 31 Republican governorships, the largest number of Republican state legislators in history, and the largest number of state legislative bodies in history. Voters disapproved overwhelm- ingly of the president’s plan to try to grant amnesty and work permits by

t men executive order. An exit poll conducted by Kellyanne Conway’s The Polling Company found that 74 percent wanted Mr. Obama to work with Congress on immigration rather than go around it. o cacy D epar Only 20 percent said they wanted the creates law from scratch. After all, situation and who certainly did not The path the president has chosen president to take action on his own. Congress has repeatedly refused to put come here to live under the law of one has as much chance of devastating his In liberal Oregon, nearly 70 percent of such a policy into effect. man who views his powers as virtually own ability to get anything done in voters rejected a ballot measure to give The responsibility of the president, unlimited. Almost everywhere in the the next two years as it does of embar- drivers licenses to people in the coun- under the Constitution, is not to cre- world, that’s what they’re running away rassing Republicans. Americans are try illegally. ate new law. It’s to “take care that the from. Now that they’re here, the Presi- not likely to tolerate lawlessness -- not In his first press conference after the laws be faithfully executed.” Ironically, dent wants to use them in a political from their immigration system and not election, President Obama essentially with his executive amnesty, President game designed to split the Republican from their president. told the American people he doesn’t Obama not only abrogated his respon- Party. care; that he’d proceed with “executive sibility as the executive (by refusing to actions” anyway. A few days later, the enforce the law) but he assumed the president delivered on that promise. legislative function that is Congress’s Summary Demographic Professing to want a “comprehen- alone. And he did so not in an area of sive” immigration law, the Mr. Obama law where Congress has been silent, National Data (and Source) has promised his amnesty scheme will but in open defiance of Congress on an

n T i mes A dv th e Washi n gto by t P repared “go away” once Congress passes a bill issue it has been very clear about. giving him what he wants. Such actions are far beyond the Population (2010 CB est.) 308,745,538 If the President wants immigration power of his office, and they funda- reform, as he says, and believes, as he mentally challenge the Constitutional Population (2000 CB est.) 281,421,906 says, that it’s an urgent priority facing framework that has governed the coun- Foreign-Born Population (2011 CB est.) 40,377,860 N TI MES AS HI N GTO the country, his attempt at executive try for two and a half centuries. amnesty is self-defeating. Nothing His actions will likely destroy Mr. Foreign-Born Population (2000 CB est.) 31,107,889 A S p o ns red R ep r TH E W could do more to ensure no major im- Obama’s chance of getting the immigra-

| migration bills pass tion bill he claims to want. How could Share Foreign-Born (2011) 13.0% during his presidency. legislators reward a president who will- Share Foreign-Born (2000) 10.1% Obama refused to wait even until fully upends the Constitutional order? the new Republican Congress is sworn For Congress to give in to his demands Naturalized U.S. Citizens (2011 CB est.) 18,142,197 in to see if a Republican House and by sanctioning his illegal actions after Senate can work together to produce the fact would do permanent dam- Share Naturalized (2011) 44.9% proposals age to the institution of representative Legal Immigrant Admission (DHS 2001 – 2011) 10,436,527 he could sign. His actions now risk government. turning a question of policy into a Con- The president must know this. Refugee Admission (HHS 2000 – 2011) 808,063 stitutional crisis, in defiance of a coun- Which makes his attempt at executive Illegal Alien Population (2010 FAIR est.) 11,900,000 try which just repudiated his position. amnesty a stunningly cynical calcula- The president’s decision to use his tion for any president, nonetheless Costs of Illegal Aliens (2009 FAIR) $83,665,408,222

3 • 2014 • D ecember Wednesday executive powers to refuse to deport one who pledged to move beyond millions of people here illegally and partisanship. It’s a cynical use, too, of Projected 2050 Population (2006 FAIR) 460,681,000 4 give them work permits essentially the millions of people who are in a bad Protecting American workers during the immigration debate

By Rick Santorum or other right to live in the U.S. We now This bipartisan consensus under the income, all else being equal. While I know that millions of illegal immigrants Clinton administration is now portrayed admit that all else is not equal and there For the past decade, perhaps the one will be able to stay here because of Mr. as chauvinistic or even xenophobic by are other factors affecting wages and issue that has crossed partisan lines yet Obama’s executive order. the Obama White House. Progressives median income, the facts are clear, real created a national divide is our nation’s However we solve this challenge, are increasingly vocal about their lack of wages have been flat since 2000, and immigration policy. And now that Presi- we should agree that the interest of concern for the American worker. For declined for the least skilled, despite a dent Obama has issued an executive the American worker comes first. As example, The New Republic recom- decade-and-a-half of technological prog- order granting amnesty to millions of former Congresswoman mended that America quickly allow ress. Clearly one of the most likely cul- Americans, we have to discuss how this (D-Tex.) said when she chaired Presi- itself to become a majority-foreigner prits is the present level of immigration. impacts American workers. dent Bill Clinton’s U.S. Commission on country in order to alleviate global We also know something else has Those on the left stand for open bor- Immigration Reform: “It is both a right income inequality. Immigration policy happened during this unprecedented ders and amnesty because they believe and a responsibility of a democratic as foreign aid? wave of legal immigrants. There have national borders discriminate against the society to manage immigration so that it Five billion people live in countries been roughly six million net new jobs poor in the world, and they are counting serves the national interest. The national poorer than Mexico, so it would take a created. On balance, how many of those on the new immigrants providing the interest comes vast increase in immigration to impact new jobs have gone to native-born Democrat Party with an expanding base first, last, and global income inequality. Today’s level workers? of voters. always.” of legal and illegal immigration from all None! All of the net-job gains since The corporate community has countries is only 1/30th of 1% that. 2000 have gone to workers born outside advocated amnesty because new im- Based on the simple laws of the US. migrants will work for less while supply and demand, We also know that there is something increasing their bottom line. Big these continued high to the argument that technology, while Business sees immigrants and levels of immigration will helpful in improving living standards has existing U.S. citizens as a commod- result in lower levels of made it more difficult to create good jobs ity whose price needs to be kept at good wages like we used to. Today A S PO NS O RED R e po rt Pre p down. 70% of Americans don’t have college But in between these two forces degrees and a large fraction of college are average Americans who have graduates don’t work in college-level borne the brunt of this economic jobs. Our country must provide more recession with stagnant wages and not less opportunity for them. a decline in median income. Under I hear all the time: “there are jobs our current immigration system American won’t or can’t do!” and de facto amnesty for existing True, farm field-work on the one illegal aliens (this administration

side and the very highest levels of ared by the Washingt simply doesn’t deport anyone un- technical talent on the other fit that less they have committed another description. For the first, the exist- serious crime in the U.S.) we have ing H-2A agricultural guest worker flooded America with competition for program can be made very reliable and our lower-skilled workers. affordable for farmers and ranchers. For At its core are three buzz terms the second, the present levels of employ- that will define the future of the ment immigration can be reworked to American worker: screen out mediocrity and admit the o n T imes A dv 1. Legal immigration; most talented more quickly. 2. Illegal immigration; and, Details are important, but the most 3. Amnesty important issue is the goal.

Legal immigration policy is a If America still believes the guid- THE WASHINGTON TIMES

decision of numbers and categories. ing principle behind any change in D e p o cacy There are many categories, such policy must be, as Barbara Jordan as the chain migration or the visa said, “in the national interest,” the lottery. But only 15 percent of immi- policy recommendations will follow gration is skills-based. America over naturally. These include focusing artment the last 20 years has accepted more legal immigration on nuclear-family legal immigrants than any other 20- immigration and current levels of year period in our history, averaging employment-based immigration, | over 1 million immigrants per year. while creating a net outflow of il- Wednesday • D ecember 3 • 2014 The Senate bill that the President legal immigration through a mix of supports doubles that historically immigration-security measures and high number. work-eligibility checks. Illegal immigration is a matter of It’s time to put politics and prof- illegal inflows and outflows of people. its aside and side with our national The core illegal-immigration ques- interest – the average working tions are what, if any, set of measures American. should be taken to reduce inflows and increase outflows of illegal Rick Santorum is a former aliens? If enough measures are U.S. Senator representing taken, there will be a net outflow of Pennsylvania and a former illegal aliens. candidate for the GOP presi- Amnesty is when government dential nomination in 2012. grants an illegal alien a work permit ILLUSTRATION: LINAS GARSYS 5 How amnesty and Ferguson are connected

By Roy Beck is not unusual. Examining suburban 60.5 percent for Hispanics. For Black make different decisions about where neighborhoods in the 100 largest met- Americans, the decline has been from to locate facilities near where large ommunities like Fergu- ropolitan areas, it found that in the 66.1 percent to 56.9 percent. surpluses of jobless Americans live? son, Mo., should have first dozen years of this century there Nearly half of working-age black When I met with Secretary John- been on the mind of was a doubling of communities in Americans no longer have jobs. It is son last spring, I discussed with him Homeland Security Sec- which more than 20 percent of resi- no wonder that so many feel that their the government data showing that retary Jeh Johnson when dents live below the poverty line. government has stacked the deck millions of jobless Americans are of he testified about the “By 2008-2012, 38 percent of poor against them. similar education levels as the illegal president’s latest executive amnesty at residents in the suburbs lived in Many politicians look at these indi- aliens. Thus, I pointed out, they are Ca congressional hearing Tuesday. neighborhoods with poverty rates vidual communities and suggest that looking for full-time work in the very Ferguson has inadvertently drawn occupations where the amnestied il- the national media spotlight as an legal aliens are most likely to apply epitome of communities across Amer- once nearly all U.S. jobs are opened ica that are besieged by the effects of President Obama’s announcement of immigration up to them. constantly loose labor markets where policy changes just before the Missouri grand These do not look like separate there are far more workers than jobs. jury report has raised many questions about issues. Of course, it was a police shoot- For months, we have all been ing that sparked the months of civil whether opening up most U.S. jobs to millions of subjected to depressing images and unrest and a national debate about illegal aliens would be harmful to communities sounds about the economic hopeless- law enforcement relations with Afri- which already have an over-supply of workers. ness of many in Ferguson. Those can American communities. But most images and sounds can be found all media also reported on an important across the country. It is difficult to side story of intense economic frus- of 20 percent or higher,” Kneebone the jobless in them are not directly imagine much economic hope in tration of Ferguson residents about found. “For poor black residents in competing with the more than 10 mil- those communities without tighter declining real wages and employment those communities, the figure was 53 lion foreign citizens given work per- labor markets, the opposite of the rates. They quoted residents and ex- percent.” mits each decade. president’s desires for millions more perts saying the effects of the loose Federal data gathered by the Cen- But if the government were to stop immigrant work permits. labor market helped fuel the rage on ter for Immigration Studies show that supplying so much foreign labor,

t men the streets. since the year 2000 the employment would America’s corporations change Roy Beck is author of The Case President Obama’s announcement rate of white working-age Americans their recruiting patterns and look for Against Immigration (W.W. Norton) of immigration policy changes just has fallen from 75.7 percent to 69.6 workers in the thousands of commu- and president of the NumbersUSA before the Missouri grand jury re- percent, and from 68.2 percent to nities like Ferguson? Might they even Education & Research Foundation. port has raised many questions about o cacy D epar whether opening up most U.S. jobs to millions of illegal aliens would be harmful to communities which al- EMPLOYMENT FALLING FOR ALL, ready have an over-supply of workers. Quizzed about it Tuesday, Mr. Johnson brushed aside any connec- BUT WORST FOR BLACKS tion, delivering the administration’s standard claim that the federal gov- ernment can continue to add millions 80% of foreign workers into a loose labor market without any particular con- sequences to struggling American workers. Jobs for Americans are “a separate issue” from work permits for illegal aliens, he said. n T i mes A dv th e Washi n gto by t P repared Let’s go back to Ferguson for a closer look of what it is like to live in 70% the midst of a loose labor market. The Brookings Institution noted a long decline in the percentage of White

N TI MES AS HI N GTO Ferguson residents working, and the one-third drop in real income among A S p o ns red R ep r TH E W those who do have jobs: “Amid these Hispanic

| changes, poverty skyrocketed,” Brook- ings’ Elizabeth Kneebone wrote. “Be- tween 2000 and 2010-2012, Ferguson’s 60% poor population doubled. By the end of that period, roughly one in four Black residents lived below the federal pov- erty line.” People who live in such concentra- tions of poverty can be excused for thinking that the nation’s economy has no need for them. And it isn’t 50% surprising that many feel they have 2000 2007 2014 3 • 2014 • D ecember Wednesday been abandoned by their government and fellow citizens. SOURCES: U.S. Current Population Survey of working-age Americans (16-65) and Center for Immigration Studies 6 Brookings found that Ferguson A guide to Obama’s amnesty gimmicks

By Ernest Istook Requiring background checks. (They gimmick is a brand-new memo from At- alien would serve an important federal are mostly perfunctory, backlogged and torney General Eric Holder Jr.’s Depart- interest.” hat do President Obama’s with a proven record of overlooking ment of Justice, proclaiming the plan to be According to the memo, this loophole amnesty plan and Obam- offenders.) legal — but only because of one creatively saves the entire plan. It treats the pos- acare have in common? Paying back taxes. (It actually applies added loophole. The memo deserves an sibility of occasional disagreements with Both were orchestrated only to those previously sent an audit bill Olympic gold medal for legal gymnastics. the president’s policy as the functional with massive government- from the Internal Revenue Service. No- It confirms the governing law is this: “The equivalent of case-by-case decisions of Wfunded propaganda. body else has to catch up.) Executive cannot, under the guise of ex- whether to grant amnesty. However, field Barack Obama is repeating the process Paying fines and fees. (The Deferred ercising enforcement discretion, attempt office directors cannot review these cases; used by him and by MIT professor Jona- Action for Childhood Arrivals program to effectively rewrite the laws to match its under the new system those cases instead than Gruber to enact Obamacare, based says fees cannot be “waived,” but then policy preferences.” will bypass them. This is like expecting on manipulation, deception and the sup- grants “exemptions” from fees instead.) The memo, from the Office of Legal immigration officers to find a needle in posed stupidity of American voters, who Learning English. (In practice, this is Counsel, also adds that a president cannot a haystack that’s moving full-speed on a were told they could keep their plan and filled with loopholes.) adopt “a general policy that is so extreme roaring freight train. These also are the keep their doctor. Going to the back of the line. (Actually, as to amount to an abdication of its statu- very officials whose deportation judg- Now Mr. Obama is using a Gruber- there is no line involved.) tory responsibilities.” ments have routinely been reversed by esque trick: A legal memo that relies on The propaganda begins with Mr. ​​What could be more extreme than ex- Mr. Obama’s appointees. a gimmick to declare his amnesty plan is Obama’s false claims of record deporta- empting millions of people automatically This creates an upside-down system. lawful. tion levels, which are based on changing instead of applying prosecutorial discre- The burden is placed on bureaucrats to Americans should remember the the classic definitions. Someone caught tion or deferred action on a case-by-case defy the president and show some special adage, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool at the border and turned away is now basis? ​Our Constitution requires that each reason to deport, instead of requiring an me twice, shame on me.” counted as a deportation, rather than president must “take care that the laws be admitted illegal alien to prove why they The plan trotted out by the president measuring those caught within our heart- faithfully executed​.​​​“​ Rather than obeying should not be deported. on Thursday night doesn’t change the land and sent home. Actual deportations that clause, Mr. Obama wanted an escape Mr. Obama rests his entire legal theory gimmicks used for years to promote are way down. clause and he is trying to create one. on this flimsy bit of bureaucratic pretense. “comprehensive immigration reform”: The height of his newest propaganda The Department of Justice memo says It demonstrates just how many gimmicks Securing the border first. (Disregard is the president’s claim that his actions do the entire legality of his actions hinges and how much flim-flam are at the root of A S PO NS O RED R e po rt Pre p the massive influx this year.) not constitute amnesty, but that anything on a special loophole that the president the president’s strategy. With the help of Prioritizing criminals. (Ignore the except his policy amounts to a de facto obviously added for this purpose. The Mr. Holder, Mr. Obama’s amnesty plan is 36,000 released by immigration officials amnesty: “I know some of the critics of loophole is that, despite the new deporta- out-Grubering Mr. Gruber himself. last year, including almost 200 con- this action call it amnesty. Well, it’s not. tion priorities, immigration field office victed killers. Pay no attention, either, Amnesty is the immigration system we directors can nevertheless propose “the Ernest Istook is a former Republican to the 167,000 criminals still awaiting have today.” removal of even non-priority aliens if, member of the U.S. House of Rep- deportation.) The biggest and most crucial amnesty in their judgment … removing such an resentatives from Oklahoma. ared by the Washingt Obama’s amnesty order guarantees hell on the border continues

By Wesley Pruden Just the anticipation of the president’s Fort Sumter.” Geraldo Rivera, the former Jerry Rivers, The Washington Times big speech set off cries and celebrations. , the columnist and one- who identifies himself as senior correspon- Rep. Nancy Pelosi, having abandoned her time presidential candidate, hints not of civil dent of , celebrated with screeds Barack Obama put the cat among the dream of ascending once more to speaker war but of revolution. “Our rogue president against the very idea of securing the border, o n T imes A dv pigeons with his amnesty action, but he of the House, and who knows no more of has crossed a historic line,” he says, “and so lest it stem the flood of more illegals. “The may be surprised by how big that cat could the nation’s history than the president ap- has the republic. Future presidents will cite Grand Old Party,” he says, “has zero inten- get, and with it a big cat’s appetite for more parently does, got lost Thursday afternoon the ‘Obama precedent’ when they declare tion to do anything on immigration except than pigeons. in a history book. She mistook Barack they will henceforth not enforce this or that build higher fences and hire more border THE WASHINGTON TIMES

His “executive orders” demanding a stop Obama for Abraham Lincoln, and his im- law, because of a prior commitment to some guards … my only beef is that he is late, but D e p o cacy to deportations is no doubt good news for migration amnesty for the Emancipation noisy constituency. We have just taken a better late than never.” millions of illegal immigrants — 5 million Proclamation. “Does the public know that monumental step away from republicanism The president will dispatch Cabinet of- at last count — he wants to preserve and the Emancipation Proclamation was an toward Caesarism. For this is rule by diktat, ficers and other high administration officials protect for Democrats looking to replenish executive order? she asked. (Does the public the rejection of which sparked the American to strike out across the country to promote artment a depleted constituency. But it’s not such know that the Emancipation Proclamation Revolution.” his executive orders alias memorandum. If good news for anyone who appreciates law preserved slavery in the four slave states Mr. Obama’s “prior commitment to some these are open meetings, and not carefully and order on the border. Amnesties can be still in the Union, and freed no slaves in the noisy constituency” has already set off plotted closed meetings, they’ll get an earful. | good, but they must be written carefully lest departed Confederate states? The public noisy celebrations. Watch parties of the Mr. Obama invites that earful. The con- Wednesday • D ecember 3 • 2014 they invite more of the same misery that led could look it up.) The only similarities in noisy constituency were held in Hispanic struction of his orders — “memos,” as he to amnesty. The president’s invitation to the Mr. Lincoln’s proclamation and Mr. Obama’s communities across the land, with many insists — hints that he expects the Repub- millions south of the border — “Come on order is that neither was intended to resolve people who know better, or should, gloat- licans to eventually deploy the “nuclear op- in, I’ll find a way to make you legal later” anything, but to set loose that cat among ing that Mr. Obama’s signature puts an end tion,” and having had so much to say about — guarantees that hell on the border will the pigeons. The Civil War circa 1861-1865 to the argument over amnesty. Rep. Luis his “racist” enemies, invites a showdown continue, and probably get worse. The hell ground bloodily on, and the immigration Gutierrez of Illinois said he had two words that he can cast as racist. The impeachment on the Potomac will get a lot worse. system circa 2014 is still broken and bleed- for the dissenters: “Stop whining.” talk has so far been the talk of Democrats, The president and his lawyers are clever. ing, and probably farther from resolution “Mitch McConnell,” he told NBC News, not Republicans. But it’s not difficult see By not actually issuing an executive order than ever. “they should stop whining, and start legis- that he is setting up the ultimate shootout: called an executive order — he can call it Civil war is the metaphor of the day. lating, and start saying what they’re going “You want to impeach a black president? a “memo” to his prosecutors but it’s still an , who almost single-hand- to do. They have an incredible victory in Bring it on.” order from the executive — he will make it edly defeated the feminist crusade for an the Senate, an incredible new majority in more difficult for the Republicans to find a equal-rights amendment, now calls Mr. the House of Representatives. Use it to do Wesley Pruden is editor emertus way to overturn it. Obama’s executive order “a modern-day something constructive.” of The Washington Times. 7 A sheriff’s viewpoint on achieving true immigration reform

By Thomas M. Hodgson automatically withdrawn, taxes, and mili- tary service. Further, anyone qualifying aving worked on immigra- for citizenship under the established tion teform for the past 17 criteria that is here illegally should not years, and built and oper- be granted citizenship before those who ated an immigration deten- have legally entered the citizenship pro- tion facility, I am positioned cess and currently have an application to offer a unique perspec- on file. tive of how I believe we can move The urgency of creating a Compre- Hforward to develop a legitimate Compre- hensive Immigration Reform plan is felt hensive Immigration Reform plan. by our citizens who have been asked At the outset, Congress and the presi- to pay for the costs associated with dent of the United States must agree that healthcare, education, housing, welfare neither partisan politics nor political benefits, and incarceration for illegal expediency will be a motivation for their immigrants. The fundamental responsi- actions on this issue. Further, they must bility of government is to preserve the recognize that in spite of lost time and well-being of our citizens and provide the eagerness to satisfy citizens and the a reasonable and fair process for those special interests groups, they must take who wish to become citizens. the time necessary to deliberate and Although government has failed in its thoroughly review options before decid- place, review and implementation should law enforcement collaboration and dou- most basic responsibility to its citizens, ing what is a fair and equitable outcome. begin. ble down on apprehending and removing as it relates to immigration reform, we Because the issues relating to immigra- The first, and most important, task criminal illegal aliens from our neighbor- are poised to right the wrong and we tion are complex, it is important that is to secure our borders, seaports, and hoods. Procedures must be established, must act without further delay. everyone impacted by the new policies other points of entry. Experts such and monitored for compliance, to require We must not show willful disregard

t men understand that to accomplish legitimate as our Israeli counterparts and others proof of legal status before an individual for our responsibilities as Americans. comprehensive reform it must be done should be consulted about best practices is given things such as Social Security It is time to embrace our challenge and in phases and may take several years to relating to staffing strategies, screening cards, and driver’s licenses, contractors’ develop and implement legitimate Com- complete. techniques, and cutting-edge technolo- licenses, and social service benefits. prehensive Immigration Reform in the Congress should establish a com- gies that will be useful in the develop- Lastly, any discussion and consid- interests of our security and the preser- o cacy D epar mission of stakeholders, including law ment of an effective security plan. eration of a pathway to citizenship for vation of our democracy. enforcement and business owners, to Efforts should be made to enhance the those illegally in our country should offer recommendations for change. enforcement of our include factors such as employment, Thomas M. Hodgson in the Sheriff Once an administrative framework is in program so that we can strengthen our criminal history, monetary fines to be of Bristol County, Massachusetts. Rallying the Tea Party against unlawful amnesty

By Judson Phillips Part of the Obama dictatorial order out America. Like we did in 2009, we The first Tea Party rallies in 2009 on amnesty allegedly requires illegal need to go downtown in America’s came as a surprise to the Obama Re- t is time to go to the streets again. aliens to get into our tax system. The lie hometowns. In 2009, we put millions of gime. The slowed In February 2009, in response to that is being sold to America is that they Americans on the street to protest the the regime down and blunted some of n T i mes A dv th e Washi n gto by t P repared Barack Obama’s massive and fraud- will “pay taxes.” first illegal acts of the Obama Regime. its efforts. The Tea Party movement was ulent spending, real Americans took No, they will file returns. We must do that again. such a threat that the Regime used every to the streets. Rick Santelli made The income of most illegal alien fami- Organizing rallies is not that hard resource in its power to attack some of Ihis famous rant on CNBC and eight days lies is so low they will receive something and today we have Tea Party groups in the real Americans who made up the later, the Tea Party movement was born. called the Earned Income Tax Credit existence that we did not have in 2009. movement.

N TI MES AS HI N GTO Now it is time to do it again. (EITC). If a family of four has an income Instead of Washington, we need to have It is time. Michele Bachmann has called for a of under $20,000, they get a payment these rallies in our hometowns and in- If we do not speak now, we will con- A S p o ns red R ep r TH E W rally in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 3. from the government of $14,590. vite our senators and congressmen but demn our children and grandchildren

| Good idea. Wrong venue. In other words, a welfare payment more importantly state legislators. to that future warned us When the Tea Party sprang up in from the real American taxpayer. They The Republicans in Washington must about, where we would tell them stories 2009, we had local rallies. On Wednes- will receive Obamacare and every other be made to understand that they have about growing up in America when day, Dec. 3, real Americans need to stand form of welfare we have. to act to stop Mr. Obama and if they people were free. up to the lawlessness of the Obama Re- As Mr. Santelli said years ago, “He is do not, they will find themselves being On Wednesday, Dec. 3, real Ameri- gime with local rallies. encouraging bad behavior.” No, it is far challenged in 2016. Real Americans must cans who make up this country must For America, this is the make or worse. He is engaged in a strategy that insist on real action. Some Republicans speak. If we do not speak now, soon break movement. will deliberately break the American in Washington think that symbolic acts, there will be no America for us to speak As soon as Mr. Obama made his economy. such as “censuring” Mr. Obama will do for. dictatorial announcement, a new wave Real Americans have two choices. something. started. Immigration and Customs En- We can sit back and watch the nation That is not real action. Judson Phillips is an accomplished forcement (ICE) expects 100,000 new il- collapse or we can make a stand. The great conservative activist lawyer in Tennessee and founder

3 • 2014 • D ecember Wednesday legal aliens to cross the border. There is On Wednesday, Dec. 3, real Ameri- is famous for saying, of the Tea Party Nation. a principle Mr. Obama knows too well. If cans need to make a stand. Not in Wash- “When they feel the heat, they will see 8 you give them free stuff, they will come. ington, D.C., but in hometowns through the light.” Obamacare offers firms $3,000 incentive to hire illegals over native-born workers

By Stephen Dinan but weren’t eligible for public benefits Under Obamacare, businesses with overall support for illegal immigrants The Washington Times such as Obamacare. 50 or more employees are supposed in America is at an all-time low in the At the time, Arizona Sen. John Mc- to provide insurance coverage to their Quinnipiac survey, with 35 percent now nder the president’s new Cain, one of the bill’s GOP authors, ac- full-time workers. If they refuse, they saying they should all be pushed out of amnesty, businesses knowledged the problem and vowed to are assessed a penalty for every em- the country — up from 26 percent just will have a $3,000-per- change it before it became law. Despite ployee who receives subsidies to sign a year ago. employee incentive to passing the Senate, the bill has stalled, up for coverage on the health exchanges. Mr. Obama created the Obamacare hire illegal immigrants with Democratic leaders refusing to But because the newly legalized illegal loophole incentive in a 2012 Homeland over native-born workers send it to the House for further action. immigrants covered by Mr. Obama’s Security decision. because of a quirk of Obamacare. Brian Rogers, a spokesman for Mr. order can’t sign up for the exchanges Until August of that year, those UPresident Obama’s temporary am- McCain, said Tuesday the solution to or receive subsidies, employers aren’t granted “deferred action” — the power nesty, which lasts three years, declares the loophole is to get rid of Obamacare’s penalized for hiring them. Mr. Obama also used in his new tem- up to 5 million illegal immigrants to be employer mandate, “which would elimi- Employers take notice porary amnesty — were eligible for lawfully in the country and eligible for work permits, but it still deems them ineligible for public benefits such as buying insurance on Obamacare’s health exchanges. Under the Affordable Care Act, that means businesses who hire them won’t have to pay a penalty for not providing them health coverage — making them $3,000 more attractive than a similar native-born worker, whom the business A S PO NS O RED R e po rt Pre p by law would have to cover. The loophole was confirmed by con- gressional aides and drew condemna- tion from those who said it put illegal immigrants ahead of Americans in the job market. “If it is true that the president’s ac- tions give employers a $3,000 incentive to hire those who came here illegally, ared by the Washingt he has added insult to injury,” said Rep. Lamar Smith, Texas Republican. “The president’s actions would have just moved those who came here illegally to the front of the line, ahead of unem- ployed and underemployed Americans.”

A Department of Homeland Security ILLUSTRATION: alex hunter official confirmed that the newly legal- o n T imes A dv ized immigrants won’t have access to Obamacare, which opens up the loop- Some employers have already taken public benefits, including Obamacare. hole for employers looking to avoid the notice, and Dennis Michael Lynch, a But just two months earlier, Mr. Obama

penalty. This isn’t the first time the documentary filmmaker, raised the issue had announced a massive expansion of THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Health and Human Services Obamacare loophole has on political strategist Dick Morris’s deferred action for hundreds of thou- D e p o cacy Department, which oversees Obam- popped up on immigration. radio show in Philadelphia over the sands of “dreamers,” or young illegal im- acare, referred questions to the White The overhaul bill that weekend. migrants brought to the U.S. as children, House, which didn’t reply to a request “The dimensions of this problem and in order to prevent them from get-

for comment. passed the Senate on are enormous. One wonders if any of ting public benefits, Homeland Security artment But Mr. Obama, traveling in Chicago a bipartisan vote last Obama’s crew spotted it during the run- officials issued a new policy giving the Tuesday to defend his immigration year created the same up to his executive order. It is hard to dreamers a new category of legal status plans, said his moves would boost the imagine former President Clinton failing that left them outside of Obamacare. | situation, granting Wednesday • D ecember 3 • 2014 economy and vowed they wouldn’t hurt to notice such a conflict between his two Immigrant rights groups protested American workers’ wages. illegal immigrants a long major programs,” Mr. Morris said in an the move at the time, arguing it left the “Immigrants are good for the econ- probationary period op-ed Tuesday in The Hill, a Capitol newly legal dreamers without cover- omy. We keep on hearing that they’re where they could legally Hill newspaper. age. The National Immigration Law bad, but a report by my Council of Eco- The Obama administration has de- Center said excluding dreamers from nomic Advisers put out last week shows work but weren’t eligible layed the employer mandate penalty for Obamacare amounted to discrimination how the actions we’re taking will grow for public benefits some businesses, but it is slated to take against tax-paying immigrants who are our economy for everybody,” he said. such as Obamacare. full effect in a year. following the rules, and set up a new sec- This isn’t the first time the Obam- The public is split on Mr. Obama’s ond-class status for some immigrants. acare loophole has popped up on im- latest immigration move. A new Quin- The NILC didn’t respond to a request migration. The overhaul bill that passed nate the incentive to hire people who nipiac University Poll released Tuesday for comment on Mr. Obama’s latest the Senate on a bipartisan vote last year are ineligible for Obamacare subsidies.” showed slightly more people opposed move. created the same situation, granting Mr. Rogers said the Republican majority the president taking unilateral action This story was first published in The illegal immigrants a long probationary that takes control of Congress next year than supported him. Washington Times on Nov. 25, 2014. period where they could legally work should vote on that proposal. Just as striking, however, is that 9 A Nation of Immigrants Built on Common Sense

By Mike Gonzalez allowed to settle at all in the early colo- hadn’t been used in this fashion in Latin racist and bigoted that their success de- nies. Germans, too, were feared. Ben America or Spain. The bureaucracy did pends on government help is but the first “The immigrants watched helplessly Franklin worried that they “will shortly the same to people as varied as Japanese, step in conditioning new immigrants to as the angry crowd spit out epithets at be so numerous as to Germanize us in- Filipinos and Cambodians, whom it la- rely on the help of a supposedly benevo- them, little children clinging to their stead of our Anglifying them.” beled “Asians.” In all, four new “minority” lent government. mothers’ skirts for safety. It had been a Somehow, they all ended up succeed- groups were created. And as we know from research, only long, arduous journey, and at the other ing through their own determination and The explicit intention, according to earned success—of the type that Chavez end, they met nothing but rejection and perseverance and without the federal Public Law 94-311 in 1976, was to “imple- and Glazer describe—gives you inward hatred.” government apportioning their repre- ment an affirmative action program … for satisfaction. Anyone reading the above could be sentation in the labor market, govern- the employment of personnel of Spanish So, small wonder that conservatives forgiven for thinking that this is a tale ment contract, universities or society in origin.” The reason, according to the law, are concerned that President Obama either from our Texas border or from a general. was because they had suffered “from used his executive powers legalize mil- southern California town where federal Throughout our current divisive im- racial, social, economic and political lions of illegal immigrants. It doesn’t take authorities were bussing Central Ameri- migration debate, liberals keep pound- discrimination.” 20/20 clairvoyance to figure out that the can kids who had crossed the border ing the table and lecturing the rest that But so had everyone else, and this President and his supporters see Hispan- illegally. “we’re a nation of immigrants,” as if con- country had excelled at immigration for ics as agents of change that will help him Actually, it’s my own fictionalized servatives had somehow missed this key centuries without this kind government “fundamentally transform” the country account of true events that took place part of the nation’s tradition. It’s actually support. It managed somehow to pro- into one that accepts more government in Boston, in 1729, as a mob blocked im- liberals who can’t see the implications duce such liberty and prosperity that it intervention. migrants on ships from Londonderry of what being a nation of immigrants became a magnet for people round the Conservatives need a positive plan to and Belfast from coming ashore. The tale, means. world. As Nathan Glazer put it in 1988: turn Hispanics into agents for conserving however, has much to say about today’s As Linda Chavez wrote long ago, the “We had seen many groups become America’s traditional values, but that will immigration battles. history of American ethnic groups, “is part of the United States through im- take time. These immigrants were Scots-Irish. one of overcoming disadvantage, of com- migration, and we had seen each in turn Immigration is tough in the best of They shared the same Northern Euro- peting with those who were already here overcoming some degree of discrimina- times. Quotas, set asides and other forms pean pinkish hue as the protesters. Also and proving themselves as competent as tion to become integrated into American of apportioning participation in society like most Massachusetts natives, the new any who came before.” society. This process did not seem to mess with the golden formula, and in fact arrivals were Protestants. Indeed, they But we no longer do it this way. In its need the active involvement of govern- make continuation of our tradition of im-

t men were Presbyterians, cut from the same infinite wisdom, the federal bureaucracy ment, determining the proper degree of migration probably impracticable. Calvinist cloth as the Congregationalists decided in the 1970s that it had to inter- participation of each group in employ- of New England. vene in the process. ment and education.” Mike Gonzalez is a Senior Fellow at The Still, the descendants of our Pilgrim Through laws and administrative The new line drawn between three Heritage Foundation and the author Fathers derided them as “those con- actions, Washington’s different depart- centuries of collective experience and of the new book “A Race for the Future: o cacy D epar founded Irish.” ments and agencies lumped different the present has not helped the immi- How Conservatives Can Break the Other immigrants were treated immigrants from Latin America under grants themselves. Officially telling these Liberal Monopoly on Hispanic Ameri- even worse. The Catholic Irish weren’t the banner of “Hispanic” — a term that new immigrants that the country is so cans” which was published Sept.2.

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| tablet or smartphone? Now get The Washington Times’ groundbreaking news and conservative commentary right on your mobile device of choice with our new National Digital Edition. The “living newspaper” is updated all day long on your tablet or smartphone with the best articles and op-eds written by The Washington Times’ staff plus exclusive columns and features only available to NDE subscribers. Sign up today! A one-year subscription is just $39.99. at’s less than 11¢ a day! 3 • 2014 • D ecember Wednesday 10 Available at Illegals get a pay raise while American workers’ checks get squeezed

By Stephen Dinan The Washington Times

llegal immigrants stand to make out nicely, seeing a big jump in their wages under President Obama’s policy granting millions of them temporary amnesty and the chance to work legally, but analysts say American workers in some jobs are likely to feel a pinch from new competitors. IWhile most of the illegal immigrants to whom Mr. Obama granted tentative legal status were already under little fear of deportation, they were usually working in the shadows, either off-the-books or using a bogus Social Security number that trapped them in low-skilled jobs and left them vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous employers. But Mr. Obama said millions of them will now be granted legal work permits along with their official stays of deporta- tion, giving them a chance to seek better- A S PO NS O RED R e po rt Pre p paying jobs, demand a minimum wage and report workplace safety violations without fear of retribution. Those new protections could produce an average wage jump of 12 percent, ac- cording to a Congressional Budget Office estimate attached to last year’s Senate im- migration bill. Native-born workers, however, will ared by the Washingt see a more mixed picture — and those in some low-skilled jobs, particularly ones that require a background check, such as drivers, school janitors or hired security guards, are likely to face new competition, said Steven A. Camarota, research director ILLUSTRATION: ALEX HUNTER at the Center for Immigration Studies. planning to increase the number of visas legalized workers themselves [and] also after the immigrants are legalized. Mr. Camarota said illegal immigrants available to foreigners with science, math to the people who compete with them, Adding more high-skilled workers, o n T imes A dv have probably been unable to win jobs or engineering skills, which would create because it’s much harder to compete with meanwhile, will mean an average wage that require more than a Social Security competition in those fields as well. Tech- someone who can be paid much less than increase of $130, the council said. number because their legal status could be nology companies have pleaded for the they’re worth,” he said. The Congressional Budget Office, in

discovered during a more in-depth back- extra workers, saying there’s a Mr. Bernstein said while there may be evaluating last year’s Senate immigration THE WASHINGTON TIMES

ground check. But Mr. Obama’s new policy in the U.S., but associations representing some competition for jobs in some fields, bill, reported that illegal immigrants who D e p o cacy gives them legal work authority, clearing tech workers say that’s untrue and accuse the numbers involved in the president’s gained legal status under that legislation the way for them to apply for those posts. the companies of trying to import foreign announcement aren’t big enough to cre- would have seen an average 12 percent For Mr. Camarota, whose group wants workers to undercut U.S. wages. ate a major disruption for native workers. wage increase because of their new legal

to see a crackdown on immigration, the Jared Bernstein, former chief economic He warned of a number of uncertain- status. artment effect on American workers in those fields adviser to Mr. Obama and now senior fel- ties, including questions about how many That CBO analysis said the Senate bill could be significant. low at the Center on Budget and Policy of those eligible for the new program will would slightly push down current legal “We face an employment crisis for the Priorities, said Mr. Obama’s plan doesn’t actually take advantage of it. Given that workers’ wages because of competition, | less-educated citizen population in this fit into the usual supply-and-demand cal- the program is temporary, he said some but said that was from the influx of new Wednesday • D ecember 3 • 2014 country, and the president is about to issue culations of available workers and open immigrants may be reluctant to identify immigrants projected under that bill. Mr. 5 million work permits for these folks to jobs because the immigrants are already themselves to federal authorities, fearing Obama’s executive order doesn’t allow for compete directly with those folks,” Mr. here. That means there’s less danger of a the program would be reversed by a future a massive rise in legal immigration. Camarota said. job shock. president. Daniel Costa, director of immigration The newly legal workers are unlikely to The chief effect, he said, will be better The White House Council of Economic law at the Economic Policy Institute, a affect most of the labor market, chiefly be- wages and conditions for the newly legal Advisers early Friday released a memo union-backed think tank, said in a blog cause of the demographics of the illegal im- workers who are able to demand the going arguing U.S workers won’t feel a pinch, post on EPI’s website Thursday that native migrant population. They are low-skilled wage without fear of being threatened with pointing to studies of the 1980 Mariel workers will in fact likely see a boost. and less educated — Mr. Camarota says exposure. Mr. Bernstein said that’s also boatlift that added 7 percent to the labor “When the immigrants’ wages are un- they have an average of just 10 or 11 years good for native workers in those fields, force in Miami with no ill effects on native fairly held down, so are the wages of U.S. of schooling, or less than a high school because employers won’t be able to under- workers. workers competing for the same jobs and diploma — which means they will be com- cut them by hiring unauthorized workers. The council even predicted a rise in hours,” Mr. Costa wrote. peting with similarly situated Americans. “The most important dynamic here wages of $40 a year for native-born work- This story was first published in The But Mr. Obama was also reportedly will be one that’s beneficial to these newly ers, thanks to less downward wage pressure Washington Times on Nov. 20, 2014. 11 LAW OF SUPPLY & DEMAND ONE LAW THE PRESIDENT CAN’T SUSPEND t men o cacy D epar

The Obama amnesty promises to swell the supply of work permits for n T i mes A dv th e Washi n gto by t P repared foreign citizens -- the last thing struggling Americans need.

Americans are suffering from a giant surplus of workers chasing too few jobs. Real wages are stagnant or declining

N TI MES AS HI N GTO in many occupations. Income disparity widens. Lower and lower percentages of Americans are in the workforce at all. A S p o ns red R ep r TH E W

| Ye t, if Congress doesn’t stop him, Pres. Obama says he will offer millions more work permits to illegal migrants so they can compete directly with Americans for nearly every job in construction, manufacturing, truck-driving, hospitality and other service occupations, with many able to take professional jobs, as well.

NumbersUSA.com 3 • 2014 • D ecember Wednesday 12