BY SHARON MARTIN

Our president is a constitutional scholar. He is deferring deportations. He understands that without Congressional approval, he cannot grant amnesty. Yes, he would like to grant amnesty, but he is following the law, and this is just a temporary fix.

Those who want amnesty are mad at him because he didn’t break the law. They say he didn’t go far enough, but he went as far as he could legally. Those who want him to fail are mad at him because he called their bluff and took what action he could.

You can believe what you want, and I can’t argue with your beliefs, especially if they don’t turn on logic. Immigrants don’t cost jobs; they create them. The live in houses, buy goods, and use services. If you don’t want to believe that, there is nothing I can say to change your mind, but here is what I believe: our country is what it is because of immigration.

The people who are crying loudest about the president’s move are themselves children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren of immigrants. They are like the folk who run for the cellar during the storm, then close the door as soon as they’re in so no one else can follow.

Keeping families together is the right thing to do. Letting workers work legally is, too. I stand with the president. He is doing the right thing. Now, if only Congress will.

– Sharon Martin lives in Oilton, OK and is a regular contributor to The Oklahoma Observer