Obama Brushes Off Republican Criticism Regarding Immigration

Barack Obama stands on his decision to prevent splitting up immigrant families, even those who have lived in the country illegally. His last week's decision to suspend deportation of illegal immigrants, who have lived in the United States for more than five years, has drawn criticism from Republicans.

MOSCOW, November 24 (Sputnik) – US President Barack Obama brushed off Republican criticism regarding his unilateral decision that millions of illegal immigrants living in the United States would not be deported, the Huffington Post said.

Obama said in an interview to ABC News that it was important to focus on the deportation of criminals and spare those who have lived in the United States for at least five years and have already put roots down in the country, Associated Press (AP) reported.

“Why we would prefer a system in which they’re in the shadows, potentially taking advantage of living here but not contributing?” Obama said, as quoted by AP.

Obama aims to prevent splitting up immigrant families, even those who have lived in the country illegally. Obama’s actions will allow undocumented migrants who have children born in the United States to get work permits and exemption from deportation, given they have been living in the country for at least five years and are able to pass a criminal background check, the New York Daily News said.

A man cooks meat in a shopping cart in the Westlake area of Los Angeles, home to many Mexican and Central American migrants, California

© REUTERS / Lucy Nicholson

Republicans were quick to react to Obama’s actions.

“He’s gotten in the job of counterfeiting immigration papers, because there’s no legal authority to do what he’s doing. We should use the constitutional checks and balances we have to rein in this abuse of power,” said Ted Crus, a Texan Tea Party Senator, as quoted by the New York Daily News.

Obama justified his actions, stating he was not the first President to take unilateral executive actions on the issue of immigration.

“What I do have is the legal authority to try to make the system better,” Obama said, as quoted by ABC News. “If you look, every President, Democrat and Republican, over decades has done the same thing as I mentioned in my remarks.”

According to the Federal Register, Obama has issued 194 executive orders during his presidency. This number is much less than unilateral actions taken by his predecessors – President Bill Clinton had issued 364 orders, while Ronald Reagan used his executive power 381 times, the New York Daily News reported.