How Did the DREAMers Get Today’s Win?
Just a week ago, the Washington Post ran a lengthy piece on President Obama’s sometimes strained relationship with LGBT and immigration reform activists, a story that featured numerous accounts of Obama’s pushback against activist demands for action:
One change is that the DREAM Act itself died. It passed the House and Senate late in 2010, and again in 2011, but was killed by a Republican filibuster both times. By the end of 2011 it was clear that past GOP supporters of the bill weren’t going to budge anytime soon. It’s understandable that Obama didn’t want to muddy the DREAM
“The president grew visibly frustrated as each successive advocate spoke. He said that … he sympathized with their concerns but that he did not have the legal authority to stop deportations.”
That was in March of 2010, more than two years ago. And of course he had the power then that he has today. But this afternoon he will step forward and announce a dramatic revision to immigration enforcement policy that DREAM Act supporters have been pushing for since his election. So what changed?One change is that the DREAM Act itself died. It passed the House and Senate late in 2010, and again in 2011, but was killed by a Republican filibuster both times. By the end of 2011 it was clear that past GOP supporters of the bill weren’t going to budge anytime soon. It’s understandable that Obama didn’t want to muddy the DREAM