Can Obama split the difference on immigration?

The president has other, more narrow choices to stem deportations, according to a Center for American Progress July report titled “What the President Can Do on Immigration If Congress Fails to Act.”

“Parole in place” is an option that would allow certain family members who are already eligible for legal status based on their family relationships to stay in the United States. Without parole in place, they would need to leave the country and wait for their green card to come through from abroad, according to the Center for American Progress report. Additionally, there’s deferred enforced departure, allowing those from a specific country to avoid removal.

Enforcement reforms are another possibility, which would help ensure that low-priority individuals don’t wind up in immigration detention or removal proceedings.

But these changes offer less benefits than affirmative relief, Fitz said. These undocumented immigrants would not be eligible for work authorization. DACA recipients are, though it’s unclear if new deferred-action programs—if announced—would do the same. And it doesn’t provide the same sense of comfort as temporary deportation deferrals. It’s subjective, not objective.