In a surprise move, President Barack Obama will issue an executive order this Friday addressing immigration reform. A broad outline of the executive order is expected Thursday and details on Friday. President Obama has stated previously that when he was dealing with a hostile Congress he would take executive branch action on immigration. There are an estimated 5 million people in the United States illegally that face deportation and live in the shadows of an underground economy because of the inability to get a work permit. There is added urgency to address immigration because of the influx of unaccompanied minors from Central America at the US – Mexican border.
Immigration reform is a hot button issue because of the impact that it would have on the United States economically and socially. The effect of immigration reform to the black community has the potential to be the most significant, as low skilled black workers will have to compete with immigrants who now have work permits. In a letter that was sent to the president, the vommissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, Peter Kirsanaw, states “Granting legal status to millions of people who are in the United States illegally, will continue to depress the wages and employment opportunities of African American men and teenagers. It also will depress the wages and employment opportunities of African Americans going forward.”
Friday’s announcement is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
