-The Elephant In The RoomPresident Barrack Obamas decision to unilaterally suspend the deportation of

millions of illegal aliens is reckless and divisive. A majority of citizens agree that the
Nations antiquated immigration system must be reformed; but only a minority of
America agrees with President Obamas urgency to act unilaterally.
In 1986, President Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA),
bi-partisan legislation authorizing amnesty for millions of illegal aliens; required to
present themselves before immigration officials to provide a prima facie claim for
amnesty in order to acquire temporary protective status. For all practical purposes,
they became non-deportable aliens at that point; pending a lengthy multi-year
adjudication process with most ultimately becoming Legal Permanent Residents.
Consequently, millions of illegal aliens gained legal status, and in the years following
the amnesty, a few million applicants became several million as family members
residing outside of the country rushed to enter the US illegally with the knowledge
that they would not be removed due to the federal government program of family
reunification; accounting for two-thirds of all legal permanent residents annually.
The draw for ongoing illegal immigration is employment. The willingness of U.S.
employers to continue to deliberately or tacitly hire illegal aliens is the elephant in
the room. This is a dynamic that, despite the 1986 IRCA criminalizing the hiring of
illegal aliens, neither Democrats nor Republicans have been willing to address with
stricter legislation, i.e. funding for expanded employer sanctions, implementation of
a National ID Card or legislating a requirement for 100% E-Verify.
As evidenced by unrelenting illegal immigration since IRCA, amnesty does not curb
illegal immigration. It is a costly endeavor, ripe for exploitation by anyone willing to
disregard the rule of law, and reality is that the beneficiaries of another amnesty will
be people whove already flaunted the Nations immigration laws.
If President Obama is serious about addressing the Nations immigration challenges,
he should allow comprehensive reform to be legislated. Suspending law without a
demonstrable apolitical urgency encourages cynicism and creates doubt that this
administration is prepared to operate within the rule of law, and unnecessarily
foments scorn for the very community of immigrants that the President claims to be
helping.
The immigration system is not broken; it is antiquated, in need of reform and
enforcement. The Nation needs legislated comprehensive immigration reform that
includes a guest worker program, an Executive Branch willing to enforce our
Nations laws, and a U.S. Congress allowed to do the will of the American people.
Finally, if there is to be any hope of curbing illegal immigration, now or in the future,
Americas leaders must engage the elephant in the room.