Top White House communications adviser Dan Pfeiffer claimed on Sunday that President Obama “has no choice but to act” and grant amnesty to as many as five million illegal immigrants — adding that the orders will be executed “at the end of the summer.”
Pfeiffer spoke to a skeptical George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” about the rumored executive actions to work around Congress and enact the president’s preferred immigration policy. Stephanopoulos noted that last fall, President Obama claimed he did not have the authority to go it alone.
“Doesn’t a reversal like that fuel the arguments of those who say that the president is overstepping his authority?” he asked.
Pfeiffer explained that “whatever [Obama] does in this space will not be a substitute for comprehensive immigration reform. Congress will still need to act.”
“But, because of Congress’ failure to fix the immigration system and to pass the supplemental appropriations will need to deal with the specific crisis on the border, the president has no choice but to act,” he added.
“And it’ll be in September?” Stephanopoulos later asked.
“It’ll be at the end of the summer,” Pfeiffer agreed.