Immigration Reform News: What's Next for Obama Administration After Immigration Setback as Gov. Jeb Bush Defends His Immigration Stance
May was the month that at least 4 million immigrants were to start receiving permission to legally stay and work under U.S. President Barack Obama's latest executive actions to limit deportations, but it isn't going to happen anytime soon. Twenty-six states sued to block Obama's plans, leaving immigrants in limbo and their stay in the U.S. just as uncertain as it has ever been.
To make matters worse, after a setback by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to not remove a temporary injunction on the president's 2014 immigration executive actions, the Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said the DOJ will not seek a U.S. Supreme Court emergency appeal.
Instead, the Justice Department will put into effect the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) guidelines and new Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program, which Rodenbush said was the best way for the DOJ to help the estimated 4.9 million undocumented immigrants.
He also said the DOJ will focus on the current appeal process based "on the merits of the preliminary injunction itself," and that the 5th Circuit is expected to hear the argument the week of July 6.
Basically, the administration's plan seems to boil down to "do the best we can" under the circumstances, given the lengthy process any appeal, Supreme Court or otherwise, will take.
Expanded DAPA and DACA guidelines would provide millions of undocumented immigrants a renewable three-year stay in the U.S. pending requirements outlined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Another issue is the DHS practice of immigrant family detention. Since the summer of 2014, DHS has increased its detention practices due to an influx of undocumented immigrants. The alleged prison-like confines of the detention centers prompted 136 House of Representatives Democrats to send the DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson a letter about the issue.
"Prisons are no place for families. We must end the practice of locking up innocent mothers and their children. It does not align with our country's values, and it is downright immoral," said the Fair Immigration Reform Movement spokesperson Kica Matos.
The DHS claims its detention policies deter future migration of undocumented immigrants.
The administration deported about 360,000 immigrants in fiscal 2014, reports The New York Times. Though the number of deportations is lower this year, immigrant communities' worry that minor run-ins with law enforcement will continue tearing families apart.
The administration is taking preventative measures. Obama has proposed a new enforcement effort, the Priority Enforcement Program (PEP), which focuses on dangerous immigration violators. He also said during an interview in December with Univision News anchor Jorge Ramos, "We have to go and train ICE workers, so that they are responding in a different way."
Meanwhile, a potential Republican presidential candidate is taking up the immigration fight. On Sunday, former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., said on CBS's "Face The Nation" that though his pro-immigration stance goes against the Republican Party grain, he is not backing down.
Bush said that immigrants need a pathway to obtain legalized status.
"People need to get a provisional work permit, pay taxes, learn English, don't commit crimes, don't receive federal government assistance and earn legal status," he said.
Regarding Obama's executive amnesty, Bush said he believes the Supreme Court will overturn it.
"I think it's unconstitutional. I've written a book about this. Simple fact is he doesn't have the authority to do what he did."
Bush claims that Obama's motivation for the executive amnesty was to "create a wedge for democrats to win elections."