Obama Considers Delaying Immigration Plan

By Steven Hogg - 30 Aug '14 11:11AM

As House Republicans were blocking immigration reform, Obama had said in June that he would act on his own by the end of summer to implement changes in the immigration system, according to The Wall Street Journal.

But now, the President seems to have second thoughts about implementing the changes.

He said at a news conference on Thursday that he was not clear regarding the timeline.

"Some of these things do affect timelines, and we're just going to be working through as systematically as possible in order to get this done." "But have no doubt, in the absence of congressional action, I'm going to do what I can to make sure the system works better," Obama said on Thursday, according to The New York Times.

Many Democrat candidates who contest in conservative states have asked Obama to put off the decision till the elections are over.

Some of the Democratic Senators who face tough re-elections are Mark Pryor in Arkansas, Kay Hagan in North Carolina, Mark Begich in Alaska and Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire. They have also said that immigration should be dealt by the Congress and not the White House.

Republicans are of the view that President Obama has no legal authority to make changes in the immigration system without congressional approval.

Brad Dayspring, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said that Obama's executive action on immigration would not be welcomed by the people regardless of when he took it. "Whether President Obama declares executive amnesty in September, October or November, he has neither the legal authority nor the public support to do it," he said, reports The Wall Street Journal.

President Obama is also under server pressure from immigrant-rights supporters to go ahead in implementing the changes.

Frank Sharry , executive director of pro-immigration group America' voice, said that if the President succumbs to Democratic pressure and goes back on his resolve to take executive action soon, the Democratic party would be considered weak-kneed.