Obama Administration Discusses Undermining Congress

So much for representative government and whatnot.

The internal draft written by officials at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services outlines ways the government could provide “relief” to illegal immigrants — including delaying deportation for some, perhaps indefinitely, or granting green cards to others — in the absence of legislation revamping the system.

It’s emerging as chances fade in this election year for a measure President Barack Obama favors to put the nation’s estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants on a path to legal status, and as debate rages over an Arizona law targeting people suspected of being in the country illegally.

The 11-page internal memo, written in April to the agency’s director, says: “This memorandum offers administrative relief options to promote family unity, foster economic growth, achieve significant process improvements and reduce the threat of removal for certain individuals present in the United States without authorization.”

It goes on: “In the absence of comprehensive immigration reform, USCIS can extend benefits and/or protections to many individuals or groups.”

The memo drew a backlash by Republicans who called it evidence that Obama is looking for ways of relaxing immigration policies without political consensus to enact a new law.