What is Obama Proposing with His Executive Action on Immigration?

President Obama’s announcement to engage in executive action on immigration has many American’s up in arms, and others confused. What does his executive action really propose? What does executive action mean? An executive action is an informal proposal or move by the president. Executive actions are different from executive orders because orders are legally binding where actions can be considered a ‘policy wish list’. Executive action is used for controversial or sensitive issues, such as gun violence or immigration.

Obama’s proposal Thursday night for using executive action on immigration will hopefully push Congress to enforce an immigration ‘overhaul’. The President has urged the government to reshape the immigration system and enforce laws that will direct our efforts and resources in the deportation of criminals rather than illegals with strong family ties and little to no criminal history.

President Obama’s executive action is proposing to cover 5+ million illegal immigrants in the following breakdown:

• 3.7 Million Parents of citizens or green card holders
• 0.29 Million in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program
• 1 Million Various enforcement changes

Obama’s main executive action objective is to create a new immigration system for the United States. The bulk refuge the President will grant will not cover illegals that have come to the US illegally in the past 5 years and/or anyone that has already been deported to re-enter the country. While the deferred action is the main plan proposal the President is urging Congress to join him in the immigration restructure to build a brighter future for the country.