(Newser)
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One thing seems certain about President Obama's move to ease deportation rules on younger illegal immigrants: The political ramifications are big. Some assessments today:
- The Hill: It could "make or break his relection bid," writes Jordy Yager. Given its potential to galvanize Latino voters, "the political payoff could be huge." On the other hand, it could "backfire for Obama among demographics that worry greatly about illegal immigrants taking job opportunities away from people in the country legally."
- Politico: This election could hinge on Latino voters, who have been unhappy with Obama's broken promise to bring immigration reform. Obama's move, maybe his "most controversial flexing of administration power," could change that, write Edward-Isaac Dovere and Darren Samuelsohn.
- New York Times: It has the "potential for considerable payoff," write Helene Cooper and Trip Gabriel, and it puts pressure on Mitt Romney, who opposed the DREAM Act. Yesterday, Romney criticized the president's move as one that makes it harder to find a "long-term solution" but he didn't answer whether he would repeal it as president. "In both substance and tone, his remarks were a softening of the posture he struck during the Republican primary fight."
- National Review Online: The editors of the conservative website have another word to describe the move. "Illegal." They add: "If Congress allows this illegitimate executive order to stand, it will have in effect delegated its power to make law to the president."
