Administration's Review of Deportation Practices Is Limited

Wall Street Journal

By Laura Meckler

March 14, 2014

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/03/14/administrations-review-of-deportation-practices-is-limited/?mod=wsj_streaming_stream

President Barack Obama’s decision to review deportation practices pleased immigration advocates and annoyed Republicans. But the results may be less sweeping than either side expects.

A senior administration official on Friday said the White House is not considering a halt to deportations. Rather, the review is likely to look at whether the administration is adhering to guidelines making it a priority to deport people who present a public safety risk and people trying to enter the country illegally, the official said.

The review, to be headed by new Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, may also consider whether a person’s family ties in the U.S. should play a stronger role in deportation decisions. Hispanic and activist groups have long complained that deportations break up families in which some members are in the country legally and others illegally.

“We can do a more-effective job prioritizing enforcement,” the official said. “Are we going to take huge chunks of people off the table? No.”

On Thursday, Mr. Obama ordered the review to see whether deportation policies could be carried out “more humanely within the confines of the law.” Immigration advocates have stepped up pressure on the White House to scale back deportations as legislative prospects for an immigration bill have dimmed.

Any large-scale executive action would annoy Republicans, who have already said they are not acting on immigration because they don’t trust the president to enforce the law.

“If he makes that decision, that’s going to push the Republicans the other way,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D., Texas). But he said the president has few options, given House Republicans’ reluctance to consider immigration laws. “What’s he going to do, sit in the White House and wait for the Republicans to do something? He’s got to do what he’s got to do.”

The White House is hoping it can review deportation policy while still leaving the door open to work with Republicans on immigration legislation. Some officials in both parties say hold out hope that House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) will bring legislation to the floor this year.

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