President Asks Congress for Amnesty Plan but Fails to Mention He's Already Launched it without Their Approval

Enforcement of Immigration Laws, not Amnesty Needed to Protect American Jobs

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In his State of the Union address President Obama audaciously asked Congress to give him an amnesty bill that he can "sign right away" while failing to honestly disclose that his administration has already implemented administrative policies which remove any credible threat of deportation for non-criminal aliens. With or without Congressional approval, the President has made clear he intends to continue acting unilaterally to impose policies he supports. During the past 18 months, his administration has repeatedly bypassed congressional authority over immigration policy, claiming broad executive authority to institute sweeping changes.

"The President's remarks misrepresented reality," stated Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). "Americans heard President Obama falsely claim, once again, that his administration has brought illegal immigration under control. Truth be told, this administration is engaged in a relentless effort to dismantle meaningful immigration enforcement and grant backdoor amnesty to millions of illegal aliens."

While conceding that congressional approval of comprehensive amnesty is all but out of the question this year, President Obama renewed his call for passage of the DREAM Act amnesty. "The President failed to acknowledge that his administration has already halted enforcing immigration laws against anyone who would qualify for the DREAM Act, even though Congress has consistently refused to approve the legislation since it was first introduced in 2000. Ironically, even as President Obama paid lip service to the plight of Americans who are struggling to obtain and pay for a higher education, his effort to revive the DREAM Act would further exacerbate the problems faced by Americans seeking to advance their educations," noted Stein.

The President also implored Congress to extend more opportunities to foreign graduates of U.S. universities and to "stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses, and defend this country." In a country where millions of recent college graduates face unemployment and underemployment, the further importation of foreign workers will only create more unnecessary and unfair competition for hardworking, educated young Americans.

With some 23 million Americans out of work or involuntarily working part-time, jobs were the central theme of the State of the Union address. However, even as he laid out his plans for creating new jobs, President Obama failed to acknowledge the estimated 7 million U.S. jobs now held by illegal aliens. "The single most effective 'jobs creation' program the President could have announced last night was one which frees up millions of existing U.S. jobs for unemployed Americans," said Stein. "Unfortunately, his administration continues to place its own political interests and the protection of illegal aliens ahead of the millions of Americans who desperately need jobs."

"The President spoke of his vision for an America 'where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules,'" Stein observed. "Sadly, for millions of Americans who are shut out of jobs in their own country because illegal aliens are not required to play by the rules, their chances of realizing the American dream are turning into a mirage."

About FAIR
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group.  With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests.  FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced. Visit FAIR's website at www.fairus.org.

SOURCE FAIR