The following is a non-exhaustive consideration of President Obama’s remarks when he announced the most recent executive orders pertaining to immigration policy, compared to the news that has come out about the orders since his speech.
President Obama: “Families who enter our country the right way and play by the rules watch others flout the rules.”
‐U.S. Customs and Immigration Services uses fees paid by immigrants applying to come to the country legally to finance the processing of applications filed by illegal immigrants to benefit from Obama’s executive orders.
President Obama: “Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws, and I believe that they must be held accountable -– especially those who may be dangerous. That’s why, over the past six years, deportations of criminals are up 80 percent. And that’s why we’re going to keep focusing enforcement resources on actual threats to our security. Felons, not families.”
‐The Hill: DHS document: 68,000 illegal immigrants with criminal convictions released in 2013” (Admittedly, this story doesn’t fit the ‘what we’ve learned since November’ rubric, as it came out earlier in the year; but, the president was making an incorrect statement that was already known to be inaccurate.)
President Obama: “Now here’s the thing: We expect people who live in this country to play by the rules. We expect that those who cut the line will not be unfairly rewarded. So we’re going to offer the following deal: If you’ve been in America for more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens or legal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you’re willing to pay your fair share of taxes — you’ll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily without fear of deportation.”
‐Senate Homeland Security Committee investigators discovered that granting deferred-action recipients Social Security numbers could create the opportunity for illegal immigrants “to file an amended tax return for up to the last three tax years, possibly receiving upwards of $24,000 in tax credits,” according to the Weekly Standard.
‐As for the “temporarily” bit, Obama said after the speech that he expects these orders to be practically irreversible
President Obama: “Now, let’s be clear about what it isn’t. This deal does not apply to anyone who has come to this country recently. It does not apply to anyone who might come to America illegally in the future.”
‐USCIS announced that illegal immigrants who enroll in the programs established by Obama’s executive orders may bring their families into the country
President Obama: “It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive -– only Congress can do that. All we’re saying is we’re not going to deport you.”
‐New York Times: The orders allow up to four million illegal immigrants to “apply for a program that protects them from deportation and allows those with no criminal record to work legally in the country”
‐“Obama’s order would give noncitizens the chance to obtain driver’s licenses and Social Security numbers,” — that’s a Columbus Dispatch paraphrase of Ohio Secretary of State John Husted, who warned that these documents make it possible for illegal immigrants to register to vote.
‐USCIS admitted to the House Judiciary Committee that illegal immigrants who qualify for Obama’s program can apply for advance parole status, which is a key step in getting legal permanent status and an eventual path to citizenship