Can someone explain to me if the president has the constitutional authority to offer amnesty

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Can someone explain to me if the president has the constitutional authority to offer amnesty to undocumented workers?

I am inclined to support him and will do so but it's going to make Republicant heads explode.

I hope he has a plan to sell it to the American people if he decides to do so.

[tularetom]

1. I'll support anything he does to rub the republicans noses in it

Unfortunately he's already showing signs of caving on a few fronts. Hopefully he'll hold out on immigration.

[yeoman6987]

8. The President can do as he pleases

However, the checkbook will be shut tight. I think this is just bad. The Republicans want immigration reform too.

[arely staircase]

2. he is in charge of enforcing the laws

He has wide discretion on how to prioritize that enforcement. He couldn't offer amnesty but he could order ICe to prioritize their limited resources in such a way that long term families or kids or otherwise good law abiding immigrants are the lowest priority.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Enforcing the laws is different than making them, of course.

The whole separation of powers thing.


We need to strike a balance between what is right and what won't imperil our prospects in 2016.

[arely staircase]

4. law enforcement prioritizes their enforcent all the time

Taking border enforcement money from congress and then exercising his authority to prioritize its use is simply how government works.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. That doesn't seem very dramatic, relaxing law enforcement in a particular area./NT

[arely staircase]

6. it is what Obama did with the dreamers

Told ICE they were the lowest priority.

[B2G]

7. How supportive are African Americans of amnesty?

I can't seem to find any recent polls.

[yeoman6987]

9. Very good question

[B2G]

10. I started a thread

Because I think it's an important question too. Thanks...