Delta takes big risk in support of immigration executive orders

In what some are calling a ”gutsy move, the Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines announced its support for President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration, in a statement released on Friday.

”Delta Air Lines applauds the steps announced this week to enact much-needed reforms to the nation's immigration system," said Joanne Smith, Delta's Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. "The President's actions will provide economic development opportunities and enhance public safety by streamlining legal immigration while cracking down on illegal immigration at the border and focusing on deporting felons rather than families."

Delta is the first major company in U.S. to announce its support for Obama’s controversial unilateral action on immigration. On Thursday, the President issued several executive orders that protect about 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation, grant work permits to undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and legal residents as well as DREAMers, and take further measures to secure the southe border. 

According to a recent NBC News/Wall Street Joual poll, while majority of Americans back a plan to grant a pathway to legalization for illegal immigrants, they do not support president using executive orders to make that happen. The President and his party vowed to rally immigration supporters to force divided Congress into action on comprehensive immigration reform. Clearly, public announcements of support from major American companies could make all the difference for the administration.

Clearly, Delta, along with other major corporations that might be considering similar action, risks losing customers. A sizable majority supports legalization process for undocumented foreigners: the NBC poll found 74 percent of Americans either strongly or somewhat support eventual citizenship for illegal immigrants, and 24 percent are either strongly or somewhat against it.  However, only 38 percent believe the president should act alone on this issue, while 48 percent disapprove or somewhat disapprove president’s unilateral action. The airline industry is not exactly the most profitable business out there, so Delta’s taking quite a risk in possibly offending quite a number of customers. Other corporations might be waiting to see what happens to Delta’s business before they decide to take sides on the issue.