Half of Americans unhappy with executive action

A new poll shows that almost half of Americans disagree with President Barack Obama’s decision to impose executive action to immigration reform, even though the majority agree with his proposal to award a pathway to citizenship to illegal immigrants.

A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released on Wednesday showed that 48 percent of Americans oppose immigration executive action, while only 38 per cent approve of the President’s decision. However, nearly six in 10 Americans actually support Obama’s plans to create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in the US.

Support for a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants increased even further, to 74 per cent, when those polled were given the details of the bill that passed the Senate last year, but did not get a vote in the House of Representatives.

The US President announced plans for executive action on immigration reform, designed to sidestep Congress approval, yesterday evening in a televised White House address. The action is expected to protect roughly five million illegal immigrants from deportation.

Article published 21st November 2014