by Caitlyn Ross
President Obama announced last week at a gala for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington D.C that his plans to implement reform on immigration would be delayed until later this year.
His announcement was met by heckling and booing from within the hall and throughout the country.
After saying he would overhaul the nation’s immigration system by the end of summer, President Obama has now decided to delay any action until after the November elections causing Mexican communities within the U.S. to wonder when relief from deportations, family separations and the thousands of unaccompanied minors to come to arrive at the border.
“I’m going to act because it’s the right thing for the country,” Obama said. “But it’s going to be more sustainable and more effective if the public understands what the facts are on immigration, what we’ve done on unaccompanied children and why it’s necessary.”
Obama’s action would include moves that could allow a path to legal status for millions of undocumented workers. He has promised administrative action after the houses of the legislative branch stalled the issue.
The delay has angered many Latino organizations and immigrant communities who feel the Obama administration has not been coming through on its promises.
“There are 11 million reasons for the President to act on immigration, but instead of doing what’s right for the economy, farm workers and the country,” said Arturo Rodriguez, President of United Farm Workers, “He broke his promise to the millions of immigrants and Latinos who are looking for him to lead on this issue in the wake of Republicans’ dysfunction and obstruction. While we’re disappointed in his decision, we’re going to keep fighting and organizing until we get the win our community needs and deserves.”
United Farm Workers is an organization founded in 1962 by Cesar Chavez. It is America’s largest farm workers union and works to promote and sustain integrity, attitude, innovation, non-violence and empowerment.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Rodriguez added. “Consequently hardworking immigrants will continue to be vulnerable, exploited, and not receive the respect and dignity they deserve.”
The Obama administration has already deported or turned away over 2 million immigrants and his delay is estimated to cause another 70 to 100 thousand more.
“Where we have demanded leadership and courage from both Democrats and the president, we’ve received nothing but broken promises and a lack of a political backbone,” said Cristina
”To wait nine more weeks means the president has agreed to deport more than 70,000 people, more than 1,100 every day, and continues cementing his legacy as the deporter-in-chief,” Jimenez, managing director for United We Dream, a group of young undocumented immigrants pushing for an end to deportations.
The actions the Obama administration is considering, according to reform advocates, are expansions of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and creating legislation requiring immigrants illegally living in the country to register with the government, pay some form of penalty, be forced upon learning English and begin the process of applying for legal status.
“For any action to last, for it to be effective and extend beyond my administration — because I’m only here two more years — we’re going to have to build more support of the American people so that it is sustainable and lasting,” Obama said.
Obama’s administration action is not a permanent solution to the immigration crisis. At the gala last week, Obama responded to the audiences heckles, asking them to vote instead.
“Congress has proven time and time again that it is incapable of doing it’s job. Our bills have been halted, the House of Representatives blocked further legislation and we demand that President Obama stand up and actually get the ball rolling,” Patty Kupfer, managing director of America’s Voice said. “With his authority he can provide temporary legal status and working papers.”
America’s Voice is an organization on a mission to harness the power of US citizens and their beliefs in order to enact policy change that guarantees full labor, civil and political rights for immigrants and their families. They work on building the voter power within the Latino communities.
“There are 1,100 people deported every single day, they are being dragged away from their families, their children, their homes and are being sent back to a place they have run from,” Kupfer added, “And there has been nothing but a record of broken promises from the administration.”
“America’s Voice is using this time in between decisions, work with families to highlight what the human cost of this political war is and on increasing the Latino vote,” Kupfer said. “The stronger your voter voice is the more powerful your community becomes and changes can be demanded in a loud yell instead of a muffled request.”
Obama’s decision worries many Democrats who feel the delay will anger their Latino constituents, which will show in the voting booth come November.