At the border, whose side is the president really on?

It is revealing that after meeting in early July with immigration activists who oppose any efforts to return the illegal immigrants to their home country, the president went so far as to reassure the group that, “in another life, I’d be on the other side of the table.” It is not hard to believe the president has a bias on the side of the foreigners. It isn’t a leap or unfair to believe that emotionally and ideologically, the president’s sympathies are with the goals of the immigration activists — but since, as president, he has this bothersome responsibility of enforcing U.S. laws and protecting the U.S. border, he must, for the time being, avoid formally joining their ranks. It is not hard to see that a combination of liberal ideology and partisan politics makes the president less than enthusiastic about supporting the Americans in Texas (a state that did not support candidate Obama and does not support many other Democrats) who are trying to protect their border and the communities that are not in a position to take in all comers.

At a philosophical level, the president probably wants to welcome into the United States pretty much anyone who shows up at the border claiming a need or a grievance. And at a partisan political level, I’m sure he and other Democrats know that when illegal immigrants are allowed to easily become citizens, they are thankful to the accommodating Democrats and thereby dilute the less accommodating Republicans’ voting strength wherever they end up living. Allowing illegal immigration is a good way to import Democratic voters. And it is no secret that the president faces pressure from Democratic leaders and organizations that are against doing anything that inhibits illegal immigration.