On Thursday night, US President Barack Obama stated his immigration speech 2014. During his address, the president vowed to protect 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation. But he also underscored the deal does not apply to criminals or anyone who has come into the US territory recently.
In the 15-minute Obama immigration speech 2014, the president told Americans that deporting millions is "not who we are." According to The New York Times, Obama even cited a Scripture saying, "We shall not oppress a stranger for we know the heart of a stranger... we were strangers once, too."
"My fellow Americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once, too," Obama said based on the transcript published by CNN. "What makes us Americans is our shared commitment to an ideal -- that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will."
The 2014 primetime immigration speech from the White House's East Room has sought to appeal to a nation's compassion. It also echoed Obama's years of frustrations with congressional congestion and his aspiration to mount the last years of his presidential term with comprehensive significant executive actions.
Obama's directive during his immigration address will shield up to five million undocumented immigrants from deportation and allow them to work legally, though it offers no path to citizenship. The Daily Beast said the president vowed to give the undocumented immigrants an opportunity to get right with law.
"This deal does not apply to anyone who has come to this country recently," Obama said. "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."
On Obama's immigration speech 2014, the president announced even more far-reaching commands, delaying deportation for millions of immigrants. USA Today said the president also dared the Republican-controlled Congress to act.
"And to those Members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill," Obama stated. "I want to work with both parties to pass a more permanent legislative solution. And the day I sign that bill into law, the actions I take will no longer be necessary."
"Meanwhile, don't let a disagreement over a single issue be a deal breaker on every issue," the president added. "That's not how our democracy works, and Congress certainly shouldn't shut down our government again just because we disagree on this. Americans are tired of gridlock. What our country needs from us right now is a common purpose -- a higher purpose."
Obama also emphasized in his immigration speech 2014 that when it comes to immigration, Americans need more than politics.
"We need more than politics as usual when it comes to immigration; we need reasoned, thoughtful, compassionate debate that focuses on our hopes, not our fears," Obama said.
The president has not been specifically good with deportation. He has been criticized because of his broken promises, stall strategies, political games, and record number of deportations. However, Obama earns credit for his 2014 immigration speech, and for the daring plan he has set out to help millions of undocumented immigrants provisionally.
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