IS THIS SERIOUS? – AT 9:40 A.M. ET:  The Obama administration isn't done, and it is being pressured to take drastic action in its last days.  From the Washington Times:   

Illegal immigrants are preparing to ask President Obama to pardon some 750,000 Dreamers, saying such a move is their last, best hope to stave off what they fear will be a wave of deportations once Donald Trump takes the Oval Office.

Community leaders have planned a rally in New York on Wednesday to make the request.

“Millions of law abiding undocumented immigrants are fearful of what will happen when the new Administration takes control in January,” the group of New York state lawmakers and immigration advocates said in a statement announcing the rally. “However, President Obama has the power of pardons that he can use to protect all DACA enrollees.”

As of September, more than 740,000 illegal immigrants had been approved for Mr. Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, a minor amnesty that grants young adult illegal immigrants a two-year stay of deportation and issues them work permits, entitling them to driver’s licenses and some taxpayer benefits.

Mr. Trump has signaled that he would cancel that order, leaving Dreamers out of status when their work permits expire. That puts Mr. Obama in a bind because he has expressed an interest in helping illegal immigrants but also has acknowledged limits on power.

COMMENT:  Look, we need a new immigration policy, and it must be one of President Trump's first priorities.  Tension over the issue is very high, with demagogues floating in and out, and appearing on every side.

This issue will test President-elect Trump's negotiating skills.  Let's see if he's as good as he claims.

November 16, 2016