Immigration amnesty by executive order

President Obama, having been unable to get his way in Congress and now faced with a Republican majority in both houses, is reportedly preparing to impose immigration reform by executive fiat. granting amnesty to millions of people who are here illegally.

From Karen Tumulty and Katie Zezima,  Obama’s potential immigration plan could enter uncharted territory – The Washington Post;

President Obama’s expected action lifting the threat of deportation from millions of undocumented immigrants, which could come as early as this week, will expand the authority of the executive branch into murky, uncharted territory.

The path is built on the long-accepted principle, going at least as far back as the 1970s, that any administration should have wide discretion over how it deals with those who are in this country illegally. However, Obama is poised to take that leeway significantly farther than before.

The move is certain to bring criticism that Obama has gone too far — ignoring the intent of Congress in passing the nation’s immigration statutes and violating the constitutional requirement that the president “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.”

But it is unclear if the courts would be willing to intervene, given their traditional reluctance to get in the middle of disputes between the two other branches of government.

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Charles Krauthammer says this use of executive power would be an impeachable offense.

Michael Gerson says it would unleash mayhem.

Republicans in Congress, with their new two-house majority, are trying to figure out what to do.  Some Democrats think the the GOP will react in such a way that will doom them with the Hispanic vote.

Is this a dictatorial abrogation of the rule of law?  Or an easy way to make a needed immigration reform happen despite a do-nothing Congress?  Or what?