By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
President Obama unveiled his plan to reshape the nation’s immigration system during a 15-minute address from the White House.
Tired of Congressional gridlock, Obama said he is issuing an executive order and all but challenged Republicans to come up with a different plan, the New York Times reports.
Under his plan, up to five million people will be shielded from deportation, but the president offered no path to citizenship.
“The actions I’m taking are not only lawful, they’re the kinds of actions taken by every single Republican president and every Democratic president for the past half-century,” Obama said. “To those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill.”
President Obama is expected to spend the next several months convincing Americans that his plan is good and lawful. He’ll be speaking today at a high school in Las Vegas, where Hispanics have growing influence.
Republicans argue the president is abusing his office and pledged a Congressional battle.
