Washington (CNN) - House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday that President Obama's new policy temporarily preventing deportation of certain young, illegal immigrants announced last week "puts everyone in a difficult position."
"I think we all have concerns for those who are caught in this trap through no fault of their own and are here," Boehner said in his first public reaction to the policy announced Friday.
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The Obama administration's directive will specifically allow people younger than 30 who came to the United States before age 16, pose no criminal or security threat and were successful students or served in the military to apply for a two-year deferral from deportation.
Top GOP leaders were caught off guard by the announcement, and stayed quiet on the issue. Republican aides acknowledge immigration is a divisive issue within their party and those GOP members in competitive districts need to appeal to Hispanic voters to win re-election this fall.
But many conservative House Republicans immediately blasted the decision last week, and Iowa Republican Rep Steve King announced he planned to sue the Obama Administration.
A Bloomberg poll released on Tuesday shows that 64% of voters support the policy, with independent voters backing the change by a 2-1 margin.
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Boehner blamed the President for not working with Congress, saying he didn't consult with the GOP before making his announcement. "The President's actions make it much more difficult for us to work on a bipartisan way to get to a permanent solution."
Noting that the President himself said previously that he couldn't act on the matter, Boehner told reporters Tuesday, "the question remains, did he violate the Constitution?"
Boehner repeated his criticism that the President doesn’t want to talk about the economy "so he's turned to the politics of envy and division, which I don’t think the American people are going to accept."
Even though Boehner recently admitted it would be “difficult at best” to pass any immigration legislation in this Congress, he said there need to be reforms.
"We've got to do a comprehensive immigration reform plan that secures our borders, enforced our laws and fixes the problems for these 12 million illegals that are here in our country," Boehner said.
Also see:
Major GOP donor eyes $100 million in donations
Rubio to shelve GOP immigration plan
I think it puts the GOP and Mitt in a VERy difficult position because even though these youth can not vote as non-citizens I am sure they have family and friends that ARE legal and can vote and along with Mitt's "self-deportation" quote I doubt if many will be pulling the lever for the GOP in November. Was Obama's move playing politics? Of course it was, but tell me what is NOT playing politics right now.
It is always disgusting to see John Boehner's stern, tanned face as he stubbornly presents his never ending criticisms, always while realizing he has continually done nothing but block and fault all efforts, constantly putting their political ambitions above all else no matter what the cost to the people. He talks about failed performances and when judged on what they have done to resolve the problems, on what they have constructively done to benefit the people, not just "the money" who own and control them, then the likes of Boehner, McConnell, Cantor, Ryan, Bachmann and the other "puppets" have to be found guilty of self-servingly doing nothing for the majority and concentrating only on serving "the few" while together striving to con the people and manipulate public opinion.
A work permit is no good when there are no jobs. Whats to celebrate??
I wonder what the Obama Pander Group of the Month will be for July? Gays in may, Illegals in June, hmmmm....
Oh yeah! It's Obama's free loans for college kids month!! (compliments of the only group Obama will NEVER pander to, the taxpayers)
Now what will August bring us....
It is so funny that the GOP has never tried working with thw President on any issue and anything that manages to get done without them they cry foul. The party of NO have one agenda and one agenda only and that is make sure that The President fail. I think that it is shameful that Elected Officials sent to washington to do a job are so hell bent on destroying the President that they are willing to bring the country to the brink of destruction. JOHN BOEHNER WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?
Why is it a difficult position? THE GOP-led Congress has done NOTHING so they were circumvented. Now they have to agree with our President or feel the pain in November.
As I stated before; the standard has been set by president Obama and the next president can decide what laws to enforce. Roe vs Wade will no longer be enforced, any one providing abortions can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for premeditated murder.
Let us hear what the GOP will offer as their alternative solution since the GOP is shouting the new EO will put everyone in a difficult position given the fact that there is really nothing at all that this congress would want to do, oh yah, self deportation as what theGOP presidential candidate is proposing.
Vote the Tea Party OUT in 2012
@ Four and the Door...
funny how when we had Republicans as POTUS they had little problem adding public sector jobs. Even BOTH Bushes did that so read up on it.
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The GDP grew at an average of over 7% during George H. W. Bush's 4 years and 5% a year during George W. Bush's 8 years. The GDP growth during the Obama Administration is less than 1% a year so far. But then the federal debt during Obama's Administration has gone up 60% in just 3 years. I love when Democrats bring up management of the federal government. It's like Bernie Madoff giving investment advice.
Obama – Protecting the rights of ILLEGAL ALIENS to invade our country while SUING states to make sure they can vote as well
I wonder what the Obama Pander Group of the Month will be for July? Gays in may, Illegals in June, hmmmm....
Oh yeah! It's Obama's free loans for college kids month!! (compliments of the only group Obama will NEVER pander to, the taxpayers)
Now what will August bring us....
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in no particular order, it'll be guns, gays, and abortion for the GOP plan, along with the birther thing of course since they can't seem to let that one go either
The party of "No" Jobs is who put us in this position. Where are the job bills you all promised?
Again, your only job is to make the President a one term President. Your colors are showing.
Myviewis - How can we believe Democrats that this immigration rule is the right decision when these same Democrats only a few days ago were saying that everything is okay with Russia, Romney was wrong about Russia and today we are hearing that our relationship with Russia is icy and Russia is aligned with Iran and Syria????? And Vladimir Putin is not exactly embracing the US. I think this shows that Democrats are going the wrong way.
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You mean Obama's slap on the knee and promises of future "flexibility" hasn't made us best buddies??? But Obama has handed them so much for nothing in return. Don't the Russians know WHO HE IS?!! Why are they not succumbing to Obama's charms, friendship, promises and gifts?? hahahaha.... the naive fool is being played like a fiddle by the Russians.
Hilarious. Republicans can't come out against it. Rubio has taken his idea off the table now. So all they have is to once again, file a lawsuit.
Is this against the Constitution? The executive branch does include law enforcement. And a typical practice of law enforcement is this type of enforcement. Calling it selective enforcement may sound bad, but it's been going on for years. And each case is different.
But I'm no legal eagle. It just seems like another case of republicans screaming very loudly over nothing.
Is this the fulfillment of the Obama pledge to "fundamentally transform America" into the United States of Mexico???
Boehner says Obama' s immigration policy ‘puts everyone in a difficult position’
Uh, Boehner, Republicans are not "everyone", because that's the only people it puts in a difficult position.
@ John, PA
typical response a man making a decision for what a woman should do. Well to be honest with you I am NOT a big fan of abortion either especially when used only as a form of birth control but the fact of the matter remains if Roe vs Wade is overturned women will STILL seek and get abortions unsafe illegal ones..even to the point of doing it themselves and I would rather it be safe and legal. But as a man I guess you really don't care about that since it's not happening to you. And I am a MAN as well.
What are you doing Boehner, you going to free Holder because you are an Obama insider who doesnt support Issa.
John, PA, I don't see where he is selecting what laws to enforce. I see where he is focusing on criminals who's crimes are more than being here illegally. I see him enacting an idea that many republicans also agree with.
Yea just like the gop. No matter what Obama says or trys the gop congress don't want it. Even if its something they have been wanting. Sad just sad.
Yawn, a lying republican.
ATTENTION NEWS FLASH
Newsmax and fox prove the world is about end.
BUT my friend, there is still time to modify your will so murdoch, the banks and the GOP inherit your assets.
Don't delay.
"Myviewis – How can we believe Democrats that this immigration rule is the right decision when these same Democrats only a few days ago were saying that everything is okay with Russia, Romney was wrong about Russia and today we are hearing that our relationship with Russia is icy and Russia is aligned with Iran and Syria?????"
How can we trust republicans on foreign relations at all when we still haven't found any WMD's? How much is that little oopsie costing us in lives and money?
Boehner should understand that it is not Pres. Obama's decision on immigrants has made things difficult. It was Romney during the GOP primaries in Iowa he promised to veto the DREAM ACT. The DNC Senior Adviser for Hispanic Affair, Juan Sepulveda declared Romney's far right views on immigration, would make him the most extreme presidential nominee in recent memory.
"Blindersoff
Move forward with out them, They want to see you fail, even if they take America down to do it. You gave them plenty of chances to ride along with you and they hid the keys to the bus. Now it's ride or die. Who's coming? Count me in Mr. President, Let's go and if any republicans want to come, come on, if not, we are running you over. Romney is road kill."
Great post. Count me in too!
'more difficult' for what…Boehner to do his job. A job that he and his fellow Republicans made very clear they are not going to do. Man they got it right when they said the Republican controlled House is 'Least productive in modern history'
@Out Of Touch with reality
What are you doing Boehner, you going to free Holder because you are an Obama insider who doesnt support Issa.
Issa dose not have a case , he's a debutant ! If he would use less grease in his hair, maybe the price of crude oil would go down. Issa and John Cornan are Grandstanders , they do nothing , they only rally the obstructionist tea bags. Both of them made more money off of Enron , they both should be is haring a cell with Randall “Duke” Cunningham.