Executive Action on Immigration: A Resource Page

On November 20, 2014, President Obama stated [1] “Now, I continue to believe that the best way to solve this problem is by working together to pass that kind of common sense law. But until that happens, there are actions I have the legal authority to take as President–the same kinds of actions taken by Democratic and Republican presidents before me–that will help make our immigration system more fair and more just.”

The resources below provide information on how the President Obama’s executive order will impact millions of undocumented immigrants, the historical precedent of executive action on immigration, and its legality.

American Immigration Council Resources on President Obama's Executive Action on Immigration:

A Guide to the Immigration Accountability Executive Action [2] (November 2014)
Understanding the Legal Challenges to Executive Action [3] (Updated January 2015)
Only the Beginning: The Economic Potential of Executive Action on Immigration [4] (December 2014)

Impact of Executive Action on Immigration by State

Delaware [5]
Florida [6]
Indiana [7]
Maine [8]
Missouri [9]
Montana [10]

Nevada [11]
North Dakota [12]
Ohio [13]
Texas [14]
West Virginia [15]

Historical Precedent of Executive Action on Immigration:

Reagan-Bush Family Fairness: A Chronological History [16] (December 2014)
Executive Grants of Temporary Immigration Relief, 1956-Present [17] (October 2014)
When Reagan and GHW Bush took bold executive action on immigration [18] (October 2014)

Why Executive Action on Immigration is Within the President’s Legal Authority:

The President’s Discretion, Immigration Enforcement, and the Rule of Law [19] (August 2014)
136 Leading Experts on Immigration Law Agree: President Has Legal Authority to Expand Relief to Immigrants [20] (September 2014)
- Read the letter law professors have sent to President Obama here [21] (September 2014)
Legal Experts Weigh in on Executive Branch Authority [22] (May 2011)

American Immigration Council Statements on President Obama’s Executive Action on Immigration:

American Immigration Council Executive Director, Ben Johnson Comments on Executive Action [23] (November 2014)
President Provides Immediate Relief, Creates Architecture for Reform [24] (November 2014)
President’s Executive Actions on Immigration Should Spur Congressional Action [25] (October 2014)

Government Resources on Executive Action:

Resources for Potential Executive Action Recipients:

Administrative Relief Resource Center [31]