Washington Examiner — A new clash over retirement benefits has come to a head following President Obama’s decision to unilaterally protect up to 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation.
The White House now acknowledges that many of the illegal immigrants spared from deportation under Obama’s sweeping executive action will become eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits once they reach retirement age.
The conservative backlash has been swift and will certainly extend into a GOP Congress’ deliberations in 2015 over how to limit the reach of the president’s immigration blueprint.
A central argument in Obama’s defense of the most extensive overhaul to the immigration system in decades was that those given reprieves from deportation would not qualify for Obamacare benefits. The president reminded critics that Dream Act-eligible immigrants previously granted deportation deferrals could not enroll in federal health exchanges.
However, Obama was less eager to wade into the debate about what to do with newly protected immigrants now paying into Social Security. He didn’t address the matter while outlining his immigration plan in a prime-time address to the nation, but White House aides later confirmed GOP suspicions about how Obama’s unilateral move would affect retirement benefits.
Analysts said that Republicans would use the admission to argue the president is misleading the public about the details of his immigration action.
“It is a bit of surprise,” said Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute who focuses on entitlement programs. “For a long time, there was an argument made by the administration that [undocumented immigrants] would not be eligible for such benefits. It does seem to be a contradiction.”
For Republicans, this debate is about far more than just Social Security. It fits into the broader narrative of painting the president as unwilling to spotlight an unpopular provision of his agenda until after it has been enacted.
“It’s Obamacare all over again, ‘If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor,” one House GOP leadership aide told the Washington Examiner. “Obama was very clear on this issue. He said no benefits. What the president says just isn’t credible. That couldn’t be any more obvious by now.”
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Yes!
This is disgusting! Obama doesn’t address issues regarding social security for illegals? HE IS A TYRANT! WHY is this country allowing this fool to bypass the Constitution, our laws and even the welfare of our country! The Congress is just as guilty as is Obama…they even accept his arrogant threats of vengeance. Everyone is standing on the sidelines with their arms folded watching this tyrant destroy our country by taking from citizens and giving to these piss pots from south of the border. When the Congress wakes up, America will be a hell hole.Illegals will not follow laws, they will not be good citizens , they don’t even respect citizens now, because laws were broken for them and their lies…and they know it! Ever see them in a rally… third world out of control…because Obama the Terrible “gave, protected, showed them how to vote illegally and never demanded” respect of our immigration laws, and Constitution!