There is new speculation the Obama administration will shift its deportation policy following an offhand remark by Vice President Joe Biden. At a speech in Miami on Saturday, Biden encouraged a group of college students to challenge authority and political orthodoxies. When he mentioned the plight of immigrants, an audience member apparently took Biden’s advice and yelled out for the Obama administration to stop its record deportation of undocumented immigrants. Biden’s response left some predicting the White House will do so.
Vice President Joe Biden: “It’s stamped into the DNA of America. From grade school on, we’re encouraged to challenge basic assumptions. No child is criticized for challenging orthodoxy. From our founding fathers on, that has been the case over the last 200 years. The immigrant community represents something special we never talk about —”
Student: “Stop deportations!”
Biden: “We will do that, too, kid, but let me finish my speech.”
The Obama administration is in the midst of reviewing its deportation policy. Last week three sheriffs in Colorado joined a growing list of local authorities that will no longer automatically obey federal requests to hold undocumented immigrants for deportation.