Barack Obama on Immigration
TL;DR
Barack Obama advocated for comprehensive immigration reform while using executive action to prioritize enforcement and protect certain undocumented individuals.
Key Points
He used executive authority in November 2014 to announce steps including building border resources and enabling eligible undocumented immigrants with long U.S. ties to apply to stay temporarily.
As a Senator in 2006, he stated he would not support any bill that did not provide an earned path to citizenship for the undocumented population.
His administration created DACA in 2012, providing deportation protection and work authorization to certain undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
Summary
Barack Obama's position on immigration during his presidency was characterized by a centrist approach, attempting to balance the desire for comprehensive reform with the necessity of border security and existing law enforcement. He strongly believed the system was broken and pushed for a legislative solution, which ultimately failed due to Congressional opposition. As a result, he relied on executive actions, such as establishing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), to address aspects of the system he could control administratively.
His record is complex; while he failed to secure a comprehensive reform law, he took executive steps to protect certain young immigrants and to focus enforcement on those who posed threats to national security or had serious criminal records. However, his administration also oversaw record high deportation numbers, which led to criticism from pro-immigrant groups who nicknamed him the "deporter-in-chief," even as his administration also expanded family detention in response to border arrivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Barack Obama's primary goal was to achieve comprehensive immigration reform through legislation that would include a legalization plan for undocumented immigrants. He believed this was the only practical way to manage the population already present in the country. Since Congress did not pass the comprehensive bill, he relied on executive actions to address the situation.
The Obama administration oversaw record high deportation numbers in total across his eight years in office compared to previous presidents, which earned him the nickname 'deporter-in-chief' from some critics. However, the administration evolved its priorities to focus removals more sharply on criminals and recent border crossers rather than long-time residents with no criminal history.
DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, was created by President Barack Obama via executive order in June 2012. This policy provided protection from deportation and work authorization to certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children.
Sources6
President Obama's Legacy on Immigration
"We Were Strangers Once, Too": The President Announces New Steps on Immigration
Floor Statement on Immigration Reform
The Obama Record on Deportations: Deporter in Chief or Not?
Immigration Policies Under Barack Obama
Obama's Immigration Reform: The Triumph of Executive Action
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.