Giving off fresh signals that President Obama will act on immigration reform "this year," the White House touted a weekend story that showed Republican Presidents using executive orders to allow certain illegal immigrants to stay in the United States, as both parties prepare for a major political showdown over immigration.
With the President just back from an eight day trip to Asia and Australia, the White House message focused Monday on social media, as Press Secretary Josh Earnest used an Associated Press story to counter criticism from Republicans on immigration executive actions.
The headline on the story linked in this tweet from the Associated Press, reads this way:
"Reagan, Bush Also Acted Without Congress To Shield Immigrants From Deportation."
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's anticipated order that would shield millions of immigrants now living illegally in the U.S. from deportation is not without precedent.
Two of the last three Republican presidents — Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush — did the same thing in extending amnesty to family members who were not covered by the last major overhaul of immigration law in 1986.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats publicly signaled their support for broad action as well:
Republicans have obviously made clear that they don't believe the President has much legal backing more these expected actions, and that was on Twitter today as well.
The Congress is back in session this week; it's not clear if the President will wait until late this week, or even after Thanksgiving to make his move on immigration.
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