House Minority Lader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said that President Obama’s forthcoming executive action on immigration is about "securing the border," breaking from the administration’s narrative that the order is focused on shielding 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation.
Pelosi and other Democratic leaders are visibly nervous about potential public backlash against Obama’s executive amnesty order.
"He will make his own announcement as to what it contains, but the action the President will take this week...are about securing the border, holding undocumented immigrants accountable and, again, making sure that everyone plays by the rules, pays taxes, and the rest," Pelosi said during a press conference Thursday.
This sharp departure from the rhetoric of the administration indicates a swelling anxiety in the Democratic ranks that Obama's executive action will cause him to be perceived as a hypocritical dictator.
On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama wears the 'emperor' insult "as a badge of honor."