The Fallout From Obama"s Executive Action
The president's plan to give deferred action status to about 5 million unauthorized immigrants is on hold while proponents and opponents fight it out in the courts.
Here's a look at where things stand...
A federal judge in Texas made one of the most important decisions on immigration in recent years when he temporarily blocked President Obama’s executive action on immigration and allowed a coalition of 26 states time to pursue a lawsuit that would permanently stop the president’s orders.
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen’s ruling in February 2015 effectively put Obama’s orders on hold, and left in limbo as many as 5 million unauthorized immigrants who could have benefited from the president’s plan.More »
One of the more often overlooked and less controversial executive actions taken by President Obama in 2014 is a program to extend eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B holders who are seeking employment-based permanent residency in the United States.
Simply put, the policy allows wives and husbands of foreign workers with special occupational skills to work legally in the country. “Allowing the spouses of these visa holders to legally work in the United States makes perfect sense,” said Leon Rodríguez, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director. “It helps U.S. businesses keep their highly skilled workers by increasing the chances these workers will choose to stay in this country during the transition from temporary workers to permanent residents. It also provides more economic stability and better quality of life for the affected families.”More »
One of the many consequences of the political stalemate over immigration reform is funding problems for agencies that are charged with enforcing the national policy.
Jeh Johnson, the Department of Homeland Security secretary, got caught in the political crossfire between President Obama and congressional Republicans in February 2015. DHS nearly ran out of money when Republicans threatened to block its budget in retaliation for Obama’s executive actions on immigration reform in 2014.More »
A group of 26 states have joined forces to oppose President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.
The coalition led by Texas plans to to challenge the president’s deferred action programs for unauthorized immigrants in the federal courts.
In November 2014, Obama used the power of his office to change U.S. immigration policy and allow at least 4 million unauthorized immigrants to remain in the country and work or study legally.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says Obama overstepped his authority by allowing this group of immigrants status that keeps them safe from deportation. Paxton said the president was wrong to act unilaterally without the approval of Congress, and the states are right to oppose him.More »
A study from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) that was released in February 2015, about three months after President Obama's executive action on immigration, suggests more support for the president than Republicans would like to acknowledge.
The PRRI research found that about three-quarters (76%) of Americans are in favor of Obama's executive action – the policy that allows parents of children with legal immigration status to remain in the country for up to three years, providing they meet specific requirements.More »
President Obama infuriated Republicans in November 2014 when he announced his executive action plan to change U.S. immigration policy.
But not everything the president announced was infuriating to all Republicans.
Some of Obama’s proposals actually drew praise from some GOP members, though the most conservative wing of the party found next to nothing to support.
Here’s a look at several Obama policy changes and initiatives that many mainstream Republicans could either accept or support.More »
Here's a look at where things stand...
What the Judge Said About the President's Action
A federal judge in Texas made one of the most important decisions on immigration in recent years when he temporarily blocked President Obama’s executive action on immigration and allowed a coalition of 26 states time to pursue a lawsuit that would permanently stop the president’s orders.
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen’s ruling in February 2015 effectively put Obama’s orders on hold, and left in limbo as many as 5 million unauthorized immigrants who could have benefited from the president’s plan.More »
H-1B Holders Can Still Get Visas for Their Spouses
One of the more often overlooked and less controversial executive actions taken by President Obama in 2014 is a program to extend eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B holders who are seeking employment-based permanent residency in the United States.
Simply put, the policy allows wives and husbands of foreign workers with special occupational skills to work legally in the country. “Allowing the spouses of these visa holders to legally work in the United States makes perfect sense,” said Leon Rodríguez, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director. “It helps U.S. businesses keep their highly skilled workers by increasing the chances these workers will choose to stay in this country during the transition from temporary workers to permanent residents. It also provides more economic stability and better quality of life for the affected families.”More »
Republicans Retaliate by Blocking Homeland Security Budget
One of the many consequences of the political stalemate over immigration reform is funding problems for agencies that are charged with enforcing the national policy.
Jeh Johnson, the Department of Homeland Security secretary, got caught in the political crossfire between President Obama and congressional Republicans in February 2015. DHS nearly ran out of money when Republicans threatened to block its budget in retaliation for Obama’s executive actions on immigration reform in 2014.More »
26 States Going Forward With Suit Against White House
A group of 26 states have joined forces to oppose President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.
The coalition led by Texas plans to to challenge the president’s deferred action programs for unauthorized immigrants in the federal courts.
In November 2014, Obama used the power of his office to change U.S. immigration policy and allow at least 4 million unauthorized immigrants to remain in the country and work or study legally.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says Obama overstepped his authority by allowing this group of immigrants status that keeps them safe from deportation. Paxton said the president was wrong to act unilaterally without the approval of Congress, and the states are right to oppose him.More »
Study Finds Support for President's Plan
A study from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) that was released in February 2015, about three months after President Obama's executive action on immigration, suggests more support for the president than Republicans would like to acknowledge.
The PRRI research found that about three-quarters (76%) of Americans are in favor of Obama's executive action – the policy that allows parents of children with legal immigration status to remain in the country for up to three years, providing they meet specific requirements.More »
Not All Obama Actions Rile the Republicans
President Obama infuriated Republicans in November 2014 when he announced his executive action plan to change U.S. immigration policy.
But not everything the president announced was infuriating to all Republicans.
Some of Obama’s proposals actually drew praise from some GOP members, though the most conservative wing of the party found next to nothing to support.
Here’s a look at several Obama policy changes and initiatives that many mainstream Republicans could either accept or support.More »
