The Arizona-ish sections of the Utah immigration law set to take effect at midnight are placed on temporary hold by a federal judge. Another hearing on the matter will be held next week.

Well, it was pretty much what we were expecting. The speech could largely have been the same one given countless times by other Administration officials not just from this White House but from the last one as well. The difference is that in the past, there was some reason to believe that the President could actually achieve something. Not today.

If anything, I'm more skeptical now than I was before. For several reasons -

1. The President pleaded - again - to being helpless to fix the problems in the system without action by Congress. He even said that "that's how democracy works." But as the Chief Executive, the President already has been granted enormous power by Congress to fix problems in the system. Why is he not using them? To say that only Congress can act is neither factually or constitutionally true, the way he is justifying not acting - that it's beyond his power - is insulting. He should simply say that he doesn't CHOOSE to act, not that his hands are tied. This is the President who has talked about having an adult conversation with the public. Let's hear it then.

2. The President is right that many more criminal s have been deported than the past. But he is not telling the whole story. Deportations of non-criminals are sky high as well. The President has stated that we've given the Republicans what they demanded as far as enforcing first. But what are the consequences if they don't come to the table. Clearly, most of the "enforcement first" types were really just "enforcement only" types who didn't want to be seen as anti-immigrant. They've just played the White House and gotten exactly what they wanted without ever entertaining any notion of yielding on the rest of immigration reform. The President could use deportation policy as a form of leverage to get them to the table, but there is nothing in his remarks that hint that might happen.

3. The President's big action plan is asking people to log on to Whitehouse.gov to receive emails and twitter posts supporting reform. And to have more "conversations". Seriously? That's your action plan? You're expecting anyone to get excited about that? 

If the President simply wanted to use today's speech to act as a marker to indicate to Washington that he's going to be putting a lot of energy into reaching a deal on immigration, then that's great. Maybe he's working behind the scenes to craft a deal with moderate Republicans. If so, then more power to him. But there's little evidence he's talking to anyone on the other side. Which makes today's speech not so big at all.

Deportation policies are source of controversy. They're not doing it haphazardly and are targeting violent criminals (not the whole truth, of course).

Advocates just wish he would bypass Congress. That's not how democracy works.

Must fix the system as a whole. Must put the politics aside.

Washington is behind the rest of the country. Coalitions around the country are coming together. Mentioning Bloomberg, Mel Martinez, small business owners, Fortune 500 CEOs, etc. Now he's quoting Rupert Murdoch.

Outlining reform.

1. Enforcement.

2. Businesses have to be held accountable if they exploit undocumented workers.

3. Those here illegally must pay taxes, pay a fine, learn English, etc.

4. Must provide a legal way for employers to hire needed workers.

5. Laws should reunite families more quickly. The system shouldn't punish people who follow the rules. Example - spouses can't visit the US while waiting on their green cards to come up in the queue.

6. Don't punish young people for the actions of their parents. Pass the DREAM Act. Now he's trashing Republicans for voting against DREAM.

The public must join him in pushing Congress to pass legislation. And now here comes the patriotic music.

Middle class suffers when wages are driven lower by illegal immigrant labor. Not fair to complying employers who have to compete with violators.

Not fair that people going about it legally wait abroad while others live illegally in the US.

Talking about how Silicon Valley was built by immigrants. Makes no sense to educate students and then drive them away.

Now he’s talking about border security.

Border security first crowd has been answered. More border patrol officers than ever - 20,000 agents, more than two times as 2004.

Border fence largely done (getting some boos here).

Working with Mexican government on smuggling issues.

They have gone above and beyond what the Republican enforcement pushers have demanded. But they're just moving the goal posts. They keep inventing new requirements. Will soon demand a moat with alligators.

Border towns are now amongst the safest in the country, despite what the anti-immigrants say.

Those of you who regularly read this blog know that I'm highly skeptical regarding current efforts by the White House to promote immigration reform. The White House's failure to engage on this issue for the first two years - years when Democrats actually had a shot at passing immigration legislation - can't be ignored. Most pundits think that the President is trying to score points with a very disillusioned Latino community. Given the President's recent remarks dismissing suggestions that he exercise the authority granted him by Congress to make administrative fixes to the system as well as the massive increase in deportations over the last two years (much of which focuses on non-criminals, despite the President suggesting otherwise), is the skepticism really hard to understand?

Nevertheless, if the President is truly serious, perhaps we will learn something from his remarks today. If he is interested in appearing to be doing anything other than playing politics, we will see what actions follow his words. 

I'll be following what he says and reporting here.

[Additional comment: The White House is apparently planning an enormous number of "conversations" with various groups that are largely on the side of immigration reform. While most will welcome the opportunity, there is a certain amount of fatigue in the pro-immigration community and a growing cynicism regarding the White House's true interest in solving problems versus trying to do just enough to stave off a 2012 defeat. I'll be more impressed when I see the President regularly meeting with those who are not already committed to reform.]

About The Author

Greg Siskind is a partner in Siskind Susser's Memphis, Tennessee, office. After graduating magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University, he received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago. Mr. Siskind is a member of AILA, a board member of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and a member of the ABA, where he serves on the LPM Publishing Board as Marketing Vice Chairman. He is the author of several books, including the J Visa Guidebook and The Lawyer's Guide to Marketing on the Internet. Mr. Siskind practices all areas of immigration law, specializing in immigration matters of the health care and technology industries. He can be reached by email at gsiskind@visalaw.com.

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