Deportation deferment a political ploy
On August 15th, President Obama’s executive order granting certain illegal immigrants deportation deferment went into effect. The best way to characterize this action is as a tempest in a teapot. It provides deportation immunity to those who have, in practice, already been immune to deportation. It is an obvious attempt to pander to Latinos in an election-year effort to energize the President’s Latino supporters. In short, it is nothing more than a political ploy to distract from the fact that he failed to advance sensible immigration reform.
Aside from any political ramifications the order will have, there are real economic consequences that the nation will soon be facing. Along with deportation deferment, it provides work permits to over 900,000 new workers. This dramatic influx of new job seekers to an economy already suffering from over 8.5 % unemployment is just one more burden this President is unloading on the legal American workforce. Rural Arizona, with unemployment rates as high as 13-14 %, will be especially hard hit. Unemployed citizens and legal immigrants will now have to contend with this new influx of competition which will undoubtedly include illegal immigrants who submitted fraudulent documents in order to qualify for the latest form of amnesty.
It should also be noted that this deportation deferment order does not alter the legal immigration status of those whom are granted the deferment. They will still be subject to state laws prohibiting the issuing of state identifications or benefits to illegal immigrants. The short sighted criticisms of Governor Brewer’s executive order have largely been rooted in ignorance of the economic and strategic situation facing our state. However, the Governor has lived up to her oath of office as she reminded Arizona’s state agencies that the provisions of current state law will continue to be enforced. Once again, Arizona will have to remind the rest of the nation that despite the political advantages derived from circumventing immigration laws, they cannot be outweighed by the historic value and love Americans place on the rule of law.