Leading up to the election in 2008, President Obama campaigned on a promise that immigration reform would be at the top of his agenda if elected [“Obama spurns GOP with expansive immigration orders,” Nation & World, Nov. 20]. During the first two years of his administration no immigration reform bills were suggested, much less passed, while Democrats controlled Congress and the White House.
Both parties want immigration reform, but the Republicans insist on verifiable border security before addressing the issue of the immigrants already in the country illegally. Reform did not pass the U.S. House because the president insisted the southern border was secure, though that is clearly not the case.
The lack of sorely needed reform to our immigration system is as much the fault of the president as it is Congress. His provocative, unilateral actions Thursday were unnecessary and extremely hypocritical. There is no crisis or emergency that justifies his actions.
The Republicans won a majority in both houses of Congress because people want to see a change in the way Washington works. By putting political gain ahead of what’s best for the country, Obama just guaranteed that won’t happen.
Mark Stratton, Bothell