Even President Barack Obama’s supporters are giving him a hard time.
The president was heckled during an appearance Monday in San Francisco for not doing enough to end the deportations of undocumented immigrants.
“The easy way out is to try to yell and pretend like I can do something by violating our laws,” the president said.
He went on to note that he lacked the power to end deportations without congressional authority, although his administration has stopped the deportations of the children of immigrants who are here illegally. The president was speaking at the Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center, when he was interrupted by an unidentified young man who called for executive action on the issue.
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“We agree that we need to pass comprehensive immigration reform, but at the same time, you have the power to stop deportations,” the man said.
“Families are being separated,” he added.
As other audience members started chanting to end deportations, the president called off security guards who were moving towards protestors.
“I respect the passion of these young people, because they feel deeply about the concerns for their families,” the president said.
“What I’m proposing is the harder path, which is to use our democratic process to achieve the same goal that you want to achieve,” Obama added. “But it won’t be as easy as just shouting. It requires us lobbying and getting it done. So for those of you who are committed to getting this done, I am going to march with you and fight with you, every step of the way sure that we are welcoming every hardworking, striving immigrant sees America the way we do.”
Obama has been on the West Coast this week and attended a series of Hollywood fundraisers at the homes of Saban Capital Group CEO Haim Saban and basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
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