I have not commented at all on the immigration issue. Not one of my issues. My limited thoughts have been this: Ellis Island worked and opened amazing opportunity for most of our families. Lets do that again.
The President is going to announce his plan for executive action on the topic. Gonna take the bull by the horns. But as the WaPo reports, this is something he has strongly and consistently said a basic understanding of US law does not allow. One example from March 28, 2011:
With respect to the notion that I can just suspend deportations through executive order, that’s just not the case, because there are laws on the books that Congress has passed — and I know that everybody here at [this school] is studying hard so you know that we’ve got three branches of government. Congress passes the law. The executive branch’s job is to enforce and implement those laws. And then the judiciary has to interpret the laws.
Another from Jan 31, 2013 is even more pointed:
Well, I think it’s important to remind everybody that…i’m not a king, I’m the head of the executive branch of government.
On Feb 14, 2013 he let us know…
I’m the President of the United States. I’m not the emperor of the United States. My job is to execute laws that are passed [by] Congress…
WaPo calls this a “royal flip-flop” but it seems like, by the President’s own explanation, a royal disregard for our national rule of law, which two times he has solemnly swore to uphold.