Beltway Insider: Obama Announces Immigration Reform; Economic Analysis; Ebola Update; Afghan Blast

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Category: Beltway Insider

Published on Sunday, 23 November 2014 18:03

Written by Janet Walker

President Obama addressed the nation this week outlining an Immigration reform package concentrating on areas of a very complex issue that tackles both pre and post entry illegal's, and effectively stopping, for millions, the threat of deportation.

According to Gallup, President Obama's job approval, over the past week, increased one percentage point to 42% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President increased four percentage points to 55%. 

Obama Announces Immigration Reform

President Obama addressed the nation this week announcing sweeping Immigration changes that immediately brought swift and harsh rebuke from Republicans as he moves to implement his Immigration agenda through executive order.

Believing the beleaguered policy reform, which currently cannot gather the votes to pass the Senate, has become an albatross of unimplemented ideals the President has outlined what he considers commonsense immigration reform package which he will sign into law through Executive Order.

The key word apparently, is "broken immigration system," as the president and his chief spokesman, are touting the "broken immigration" system as the foundation for his executive orders and his refusal to modify current legislation to create a more blended bill acceptable to both parties.

As it is the Democratic White House bent on restructuring reforms central to the democratic platform and the Republican held House and Senate that come January the chances of the President will have little or no opportunity to pass his current legislation, although he has stated a willingness to work with the Republican held senate.

Obama's Immigration Plan

The Immigration system is a complex, multifaceted, issue that encompasses both pre-entry and post entry status. Within each of these set situations are complicated and deeply involved circumstances and questions that swing the pendulum of legal, humanitarian, political and religious status, justification and concern.

The President outlined a bulleted introduction to Immigration reform to the American people. The three point plan handed two very easy, understandable and agreeable areas of immigration reform in the prime time address.

"First, we'll build on our progress at the border with additional resources for our law enforcement personnel so that they can stem the flow of illegal crossings, and speed the return of those who do cross over. Second, I'll make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates, and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy, as so many business leaders have proposed. Third, we'll take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live in our country," the President said.

While the majority of the President's plan focused on post-entry illegal's, his inclusion of Border Control and resources package to increase security along the most vulnerable areas of the southern border indicates he is at least willing to acknowledge the pre-entry issues are equally important and the need to stop the illegal at the point of entry remains the surest way to combat the in country illegal immigration problem.

His third bullet drew the most criticism as his belief center on allowing in country illegal's to purchase citizenship.

"I want to say more about this third issue, because it generates the most passion and controversy. Even as we are a nation of immigrants, we're also a nation of laws.

Now here's the thing: We expect people who live in this country to play by the rules. We expect that those who cut the line will not be unfairly rewarded. So we're going to offer the following deal: If you've been in America for more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens or legal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you're willing to pay your fair share of taxes -- you'll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily without fear of deportation. You can come out of the shadows and get right with the law. That's what this deal is.

Now, let's be clear about what it isn't. This deal does not apply to anyone who has come to this country recently. It does not apply to anyone who might come to America illegally in the future. It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive -– only Congress can do that. All we're saying is we're not going to deport you," the President said.

Border Kids Eyesore

TheBorder Kids crisis, which captured the world's attention, at its height saw thousands of children, who traveled alone, arrive illegally in the United States only to be captured and detained.

Parents in Latin American countries were sending their children to the United States with the belief that based on humanitarian justification the United States would not move to repatriate these children which would then allow for reunification of families based on religious and humanitarian reasons.

The idea of a better life, which allowed millions to enter through Ellis Island, has continued to draw millions illegally across the Rio Grande into American where the immigration burden the President believes his plan will alleviate, or at minimum assist in alleviating, becomes split into political camps.

Throughout the summer months Border Agents saw an exponential increase in unaccompanied children that ushered in the need for a trilateral conference between Obama and the President's of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

The outcome of the Presidential meetings included a shared responsibility between nations for the migrant children, "The Administration remains greatly concerned by the numbers of unaccompanied children who are crossing into the United States. These children are some of the most vulnerable, and many become victims of violent crime, gang recruitment, exploitation, or sexual abuse along the dangerous journey.  This is a humanitarian matter and our first priority is to make sure these children are housed, fed, and receive any necessary medical treatment," the statement read.

Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform

Following the televised address the White House released an Immigration Fact Sheet to which the President's team released what is believe an in-depth economic analysis of what the nation and by extension every American has to gain by the implementation of his Immigration reform package.

Coming off the heels of the G20, where it was unilaterally agreed that every nation would raise the GDP by 2% by 2018 the Immigration package outlines an economic attachment the effectively creates the potential of that possibility.

Benchmarks within the Economic Analysis indicate the Executive Orders would strengthen the overall economy and grow U.S. GDP, increase wages and productivity for American workers and reduce the federal deficit and strengthen Social Security.

Additionally, the President's actions will grow the economy by increasing the productivity of all American workers and will increase the size of the American workforce. The economic analysis also indicated average wages for all workers, immigrant, resident and citizen, will increase and a bigger economy will reduce the deficit.

Ebola Updates

President Obama this week addressed the current Ebola strategy as the deadly contagion claimed another life, a Sierra Leone surgeon, Dr. Martin Salia, bringing the total U.S. deaths from the disease to two.

 Airlifted to the United States for treatment, Salia, who contracted the diseases in his efforts to assist his countrymen, had already passed into the critical stages of Ebola incubation. He was treated both in route and upon arrival at Nebraska Medical center, where it was announced that despite the best efforts to treat the deadly disease, Dr. Salia passed away.

He is, of course, the second non-U.S. citizen to die on U.S. soil from the highly infectious disease that has already claimed the lives of 15,000 in his home region of West Africa.

"Beyond this tragedy, though, we've established that when Ebola is promptly diagnosed and treated, then we have a great chance of curing it.  Of the eight patients who were treated promptly in the United States, all eight have recovered.  They are Ebola free and they are back with their families," the President said.

West Africa continues to see epidemic numbers, with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea reporting an increase in cases and although some countries in the region have concluded, using the 21day window medical officials use to determine if the disease is still spreading at epidemic levels, the epidemic stage is over.

With two new confirmed cases in Mali, a small West African inland country, bordered by Guinea, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, the belief that global attention and effort has stopped the spread are incorrect.

Ebola teams are in route to the eighth largest African country and the potential, if the cases are not isolated and trace risk cases not managed, exists for another Ebola epidemic outbreak are very high.

The Ebola scare, as some have called the initial rush to classify the potential Ebola threat in the United States has seen several elements which were not considered variables in the initial assessments.

Initially, as the only benchmarks in disease determination were filtered through the data received form the nations ravaged in West Africa. No medical professional expected any less if and when the diseases made it to the United States.

Advancement in medical treatments and technologies are, apparently the single most determining factor in the cure, after incubation. Although other pre-dispositional factors, which have not been mentioned or included in any medical brief, but still remain clear, including race, has yet to be earmarked as potential concluding factors in the ability to ward off the disease.

Even the potential of westernized African Americans of a linear genetic string, without bi-racial or mixed races influences, may be protected from the fullness of the disease.

Clearly galvanized for the continued threat of a global catastrophic pandemic governments of the world have joined to pledge both finances and medical revelations, breakthroughs and advancements to assist in stemming the threat of this deadly contagion.

 "All of this means that, although we should feel optimistic about our capacity to solve the Ebola crisis, we cannot be complacent simply because the news attention on it has waned.  We have to stay with it.  And that's why I'm calling on Congress to make sure that it approves before it leaves the emergency funding request that we put forward to respond to Ebola, both domestically and internationally," the President said.

Afghan Suicide Bomb Blast Kills Dozens

At least 45 people have been reported dead after a suicide bomb exploded in Paktika, Afghanistan during a district level volleyball tournament ripping through the viewing area bringing a new level of violence to the war weary providence.

According to news reports at least 60 others, including men, women and children, were wounded, some critically, in the brazen attack which occurred just hours after Afghan parliamentary leaders approved security pacts with the United States and NATO.

As the death toll is expected to rise, the blast has been condemned as an act of cowardice, non Islamic by local tribunal leaders.

Located southeast of Kandahar, violence is not new to the region and the afternoon explosion brought the realities of Taliban cruelty back to the forefront of the world stage.

The bomb denoted with such force that it sent shrapnel, loaded with crushed glass, nails, pellets and other projectiles deep into the crowd the extent of injury has yet to be determined.

Female Leads White House Pastry Team

On a much sweeter note, The White House has announced Susan E. Morrison has been named the Executive Pastry Chef, the first female in the history of the White House to serve in this role.

Known locally, Morrison is highly regarded in the pastry arts community and has been employed at the Ritz-Carlton, Tyson Corner Hotel where she had been appointed Assistant Pastry Chef in 2002. At the White House she has worked with such renowned pastry chef as Executive Pastry Chefs Roland Mesnier, Thaddeus Dubois and Bill Yosses. Mentored by Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, Morrison counts her as both a leader and inspiration.

Morrison will maintain day to day operations of the White House pastry kitchen as well as execute all planning and pastry preparation for all White House events. Known for her dedication to health and preserving the Honey Bee, Morrison will also maintain, nurture and care for the White House bee hive as well as tend the White House Garden.

As the White House gears up for the holiday festivities Chef Susie will be the center of attention as the annual Gingerbread House is created.

Chef Morrison replaces exiting Pastry Chef William Yossess who departed to create the "Kitchen Garden Laboratory" a cooking advocacy program.

President Obama has begun to implement across the board changes to include more women in traditionally held male positions.

For more information on President Barack Obama: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.org, Wikipedia.com,