In bypassing Congress through an executive order, US President Barack Obama risks a backlash from opponents of his sweeping reforms in immigration rules as they see it as governance by diktat. But few opponents can openly object as this would risk alienating the fastest growing group of voters in 2016: Latinos. Nor can they risk the rising votebank of African-Americans and Asian-Americans turning against them, over a step that could change the lives of 11 million “illegals,” of whom at least five million may be eligible for three-year work permits.
But these new work permit holders won’t be citizens and so can’t vote in the 2016 elections. One must see how this preys on the minds of Republicans as they vote on the immigration bill, as they wouldn’t want to damage their prospects of unseating the Democrats two years later.
This key reform will bring considerable relief to Indians too, among whom there are estimated 250,000 “illegals”. There will be spinoff benefits for spouses of iIT employees who can seek work, while students earning specialised degrees can also plan to settle down in the US. Those who will benefit from the first major change in immigration laws since 1986 will undoubtedly sing Mr Obama’s praise, while the Republicans fume at the audacity of the executive action.
