Obama’s Dead End

President Barack Obama announced yesterday that he will use his executive powers to advance reforms in the United States’ immigration policy. Just as this issue initially created high expectations, it is also likely to produce a new conflict between Democrats and Republicans that could bring about another congressional stalemate.

There is no doubt that with this reform, Obama plans to fulfill one of his failed promises — one that was unsuccessful in part because of his opposition’s actions within Congress, and in part because of the president’s inability to facilitate an agreement on such a sensitive subject. This issue involves defining the status of 11 million undocumented people, especially young people that arrived in the United States as children and that cannot be returned to their countries of origin without performing an injustice.

With these executive orders unveiled, another round of partisan problems is expected that could bring on another impasse, given that the Republicans will control both houses of Congress at the start of next year. That is the worry of many Americans who used their vote to express their weariness of Washington politics because it does not contribute to the nation’s progress.

Apparently, the goal of these presidential directives is to protect against the deportation of young and old undocumented people, who have contributed to the U.S. economy, national security and even the tax system for years. But at the same time, the rulings involve decisions to prevent the southern border of the United States from continuing to be a point of entry for undocumented immigrants.

It’s important to remember that in 2013, Obama presented an immigration reform project, which was approved by the Senate, but languished in the House of Representative due to Republican objections. Now, the Republican Party has indicated that it will fight “tooth and nail” against the unilateral measures, as John Boehner, speaker of the House of Representatives, recently assured. Mitch McConnell, the next Senate majority leader, also conveyed his skepticism and asked the president to work with the opposition “in order to find a way to improve the immigration system.”

The problem is that without consensus, even though Obama could implement the reform, it will not be effective if it is not approved in the governmental budget. The final result could be another deadlock in the country, due again to the president’s inability to reach a bipartisan agreement.

The objections suggest that the divisions which have made Congress’ job so difficult over the last few years will only continue to deepen. It is likely that Obama´s announcement will hinder the reform’s approval through the legislative route, which would have a more widespread and lasting effect than an executive action.

It is important to remember that the United States finds itself in an election campaign, and that Latinos were the principal force that guaranteed Obama’s re-election. But many of them were disappointed when he did not fulfill his promise to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

However, the cure could be worse than the disease, not just because of the partisan clash, but also because in the immediate future, any immigration reform proposal could remain blocked in Congress.