Just two days ago, President Obama promised to keep fighting for the legal rights of illegal immigrants.
“I’m going to keep doing everything I can to make our immigration system more just and more fair,” said Obama on Saturday, in an address celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month.
Obama announced in November that up to 5 million illegal immigrants would be eligible to be shielded from deportation — including undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents — as long as they met certain criteria.
“Some folks are still fighting against these actions,” he said. “I’m going to keep fighting for them. Because the law is on our side. It’s the right thing to do. And it will make America stronger.”
But despite his plans, yesterday the Washington Post revealed that Obama’s words may have been empty promises.
The Department of Homeland Security has suspended plans to hire up to 3,100 new employees, most of whom would be housed in an 11-story building the government has leased for $7.8 million a year in Arlington, Va.
Legal observers now predict the debate over Obama’s immigration policies could last until the end of his presidency.
