OBAMA DUCKS ON MASS AMNESTY PLAN

President Obama, at a pre-vacation press conference, left open the possibility of issuing millions of work visas for illegal immigrants. Obama ducked a question about the controversial plan, but said that he would “scour over” laws and regulations to see what authority he has to address the “under-resourced” immigration system. But the proposal would cross over from the selective enforcement that has allowed Obama to grant an indefinite amnesty to some 500,000 immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as minors. While Obama’s decision caused plenty of outrage on the right, the administration has been able to claim that Obama is simply prioritizing enforcement in the face of insufficient resources. But granting visas to those previously deemed ineligible would not be shifting resources, it would be expending resources in pursuit of a policy goal. It’s a move that would please his political base but also cause widespread anxiety about Obama’s increasing tendency toward regency. Obama is expected to roll out his immigration plan after Labor Day.