Immigration Reform 2014 News & Update: President Obama Threatens Executive Action Unless Boehner, House Pass Legislation
U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Monday that he will no longer wait for the House of Representatives to pass an immigration bill as he plans to take on the issue of changing the deportation policies by executive action.
According to statements from the White House, the President has decided to act on his own and refocus resources into immigration enforcement at the borders should the House decide against passing a bill that would do so.
Obama will look into possible changes that can be implemented regarding policies on deportation as well. He said that if Congress will not do their job, at least the White House can do theirs, adding that he will fix the issue as much as his own efforts can address.
Last week, House Speaker John Boehner told the President that his chamber would not by giving their vote on immigration reform this year.
While the Senate passed a comprehensive bill last year, Boehner said that he would not allow a vote on such legislation, adding that the House would be addressing immigration reform independently. He further said on Monday that Obama has not gained the trust of the Republicans in enforcing laws that they might pass. Nonetheless, Obama said that if they do not want him to take executive action, the House will have to pass legislation themselves.
The concern over the influx of undocumented immigrants crossing the border has reached its peak this year as more unaccompanied minors continue to cross the border illegally, prompting the government to send more resources to detain and control the immigrants.
About $2 billion was requested by the White House from Congress to fund and fast track efforts in dealing with the crisis.
Obama condemned the Republicans who said that there is nothing they can do about the immigration predicament, calling it their "newest excuse."
All of the politics and slow government response has pushed the U.S. President to take matters into his own hands.
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