“There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.”
President Barack Obama, Grant Park speech election night 2008
New details have emerged about a series of White House conference calls held leading up to the nearly clandestine announcement expanding prosecutorial discretion for non-criminal illegal aliens.
While Republican Members of Congress, immigration enforcement groups and much of the media were kept in the dark about the announcement until a message was posted on the White House website, the Administration held a series of phone conferences with amnesty advocates before making the official policy announcement. (click here to view the list of participants)
Following initial calls with the staff of congressional DREAM Act supporters, the White House held a conference call open only to amnesty supporters. Those groups invited and/or participating included: the AFL-CIO, SEIU, America’s Voice, Voto Latino, MALDEF, and NCLR.
According to the records available, not one dissenting organization or Member of Congress was included or consulted during the roll out of the outrageous new policy. Additionally, only Hispanic media were invited to the initial background conference call on the announcement.
The secretive nature of the announcement and accompanying calls highlight the dangerous tactics of the Obama Administration. If the Administration is unwilling to make even the list of participants on a conference call public, let alone the content of what is discussed, how can their policies or reassurances that immigration laws are being enforced ever be trusted?