BET Wire: Obama Defies GOP on Immigration Reform

Plus, the Congressional Black Caucus announces new leader.

In Case You Missed It - Republicans leave President Obama scratching his head; Ben Carson kind of blames the spread of measles on immigrants; one lawmaker thinks it's OK if your food service worker doesn't wash his hands after a bathroom break — and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

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In Case You Missed It - President Obama defies Republicans to issue executive orders on immigration; Sen. Ted Cruz says the White House must be smoking marijuana and the public's not thrilled, either; North Carolina Rep. G.K. Butterfield will be the Congressional Black Caucus's new leader; and more. –  Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: BET)

Double Dare Me - Despite multiple warnings from Republican lawmakers about how they would respond if Obama used his executive powers to push through immigration reform, the president plans to do just that. In a prime-time speech on Nov. 20, he will announce a plan that would shield up to 5 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. "What I'm going to be laying out is the things that I can do, with my lawful authority as president, to make the system work better — even as I continue to work with Congress and encourage them to get a bipartisan, comprehensive bill that can solve the entire problem," Obama said in a Facebook video, announcing his intentions. (Photo: White House via Facebook)

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Double Dare Me - Despite multiple warnings from Republican lawmakers about how they would respond if Obama used his executive powers to push through immigration reform, the president plans to do just that. In a prime-time speech on Nov. 20, he will announce a plan that would shield up to 5 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. "What I'm going to be laying out is the things that I can do, with my lawful authority as president, to make the system work better — even as I continue to work with Congress and encourage them to get a bipartisan, comprehensive bill that can solve the entire problem," Obama said in a Facebook video, announcing his intentions. (Photo: White House via Facebook)

A Nation Unevenly Divided - In an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released on Nov 19, 48 percent of the respondents said that they oppose Obama’s plan to use executive action on immigration reform, while 38 percent support the action. Fourteen percent had no opinion or were unsure. (Photo: REUTERS/Mark Makela)

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A Nation Unevenly Divided - In an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released on Nov 19, 48 percent of the respondents said that they oppose Obama’s plan to use executive action on immigration reform, while 38 percent support the action. Fourteen percent had no opinion or were unsure. (Photo: REUTERS/Mark Makela)

See You in Court - Texas Gov. Rick Perry said that "there's probably a very real possibility" that his state could sue the Obama administration if the president takes executive action on immigration. "The cost to the people of the state of Texas is an extraordinary amount of money that this president is exacerbating with his announcement that he's going to allow for this executive order," Perry said. And although he leaves office in January, he is confident that incoming governor Greg Abbott, the state's former attorney general, who considers lawsuits against Obama part of his job, also would pursue such a lawsuit, CNN reports.  Photo: Drew Anthony Smith/Getty Images)

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See You in Court - Texas Gov. Rick Perry said that "there's probably a very real possibility" that his state could sue the Obama administration if the president takes executive action on immigration. "The cost to the people of the state of Texas is an extraordinary amount of money that this president is exacerbating with his announcement that he's going to allow for this executive order," Perry said. And although he leaves office in January, he is confident that incoming governor Greg Abbott, the state's former attorney general, who considers lawsuits against Obama part of his job, also would pursue such a lawsuit, CNN reports.  Photo: Drew Anthony Smith/Getty Images)

Executive Authority on Drugs - Sen. Ted Cruz, widely credited with inciting last year's government shutdown, is outraged by Obama's immigration plans. Indeed, the Texas lawmaker, who is believed to be considering a 2016 presidential bid, says the people working in the White House must be on drugs. "If they're spinning that the message of this last election is that Congress should suddenly agree with President Obama's policies and roll over, then they've traveled to some of these states that have legalized marijuana and they've been smoking something. Because that ain't what that election was," Cruz told Fox News host Megyn Kelly. (Photo: Erich Schlegel/Getty Images)

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Executive Authority on Drugs - Sen. Ted Cruz, widely credited with inciting last year's government shutdown, is outraged by Obama's immigration plans. Indeed, the Texas lawmaker, who is believed to be considering a 2016 presidential bid, says the people working in the White House must be on drugs. "If they're spinning that the message of this last election is that Congress should suddenly agree with President Obama's policies and roll over, then they've traveled to some of these states that have legalized marijuana and they've been smoking something. Because that ain't what that election was," Cruz told Fox News host Megyn Kelly. (Photo: Erich Schlegel/Getty Images)

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Nice Work If You Can Get It - The U.S. House of Representatives will be in session a whole 132 days in 2015. That's six more days than in 2014 and includes 18 weeks in which no votes are scheduled. January is the only month during which they will spend four weeks on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers' four-day work week will end by 3 p.m. so they can get home to their districts for the weekend. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Nice Work If You Can Get It - The U.S. House of Representatives will be in session a whole 132 days in 2015. That's six more days than in 2014 and includes 18 weeks in which no votes are scheduled. January is the only month during which they will spend four weeks on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers' four-day work week will end by 3 p.m. so they can get home to their districts for the weekend. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Third Time's the Charm? - So far two tony law firms have thought better of their decisions to represent the House of Representatives in its lawsuit against Obama and eventually turned the gig down. Now House Speaker John Boehner has turned to Jonathan Turley, a George Washington Law School professor and frequent legal commentator. Boehner spokesman Michael Steel says that Turley is "a renowned legal scholar who agrees that President Obama has clearly overstepped his constitutional authority." The suit centers on changes the president unilaterally made to his signature health care law, but lawmakers may consider adding immigration to its list of grievances. (Photo: Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)

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Third Time's the Charm? - So far two tony law firms have thought better of their decisions to represent the House of Representatives in its lawsuit against Obama and eventually turned the gig down. Now House Speaker John Boehner has turned to Jonathan Turley, a George Washington Law School professor and frequent legal commentator. Boehner spokesman Michael Steel says that Turley is "a renowned legal scholar who agrees that President Obama has clearly overstepped his constitutional authority." The suit centers on changes the president unilaterally made to his signature health care law, but lawmakers may consider adding immigration to its list of grievances. (Photo: Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)

Lynch Can Wait - The confirmation process for Loretta Lynch, the president's nominee to become the next U.S. attorney general, will likely not take place until the Senate convenes in January with Republicans in control. Obama's plans to use his executive authority to make reforms to the nation's immigration system will not help her chances as her responses to questions about the use of executive power and immigration are topping the list of lawmakers' concerns. (Photo: REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/LANDOV)

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Lynch Can Wait - The confirmation process for Loretta Lynch, the president's nominee to become the next U.S. attorney general, will likely not take place until the Senate convenes in January with Republicans in control. Obama's plans to use his executive authority to make reforms to the nation's immigration system will not help her chances as her responses to questions about the use of executive power and immigration are topping the list of lawmakers' concerns. (Photo: REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/LANDOV)

And the Winner Is ... - North Carolina Rep. G.K. Butterfield has been elected the next chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “The new Congress provides a fresh start to address the issues that are important to us all. Members of the CBC come from every region of the country. While we each have our own priorities, we speak with a singular, powerful voice in our fight to deliver on the expectations of Americans — to have a government that works for us all," said the former judge. (Photo: Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer/ MCT /LANDOV)

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And the Winner Is ... - North Carolina Rep. G.K. Butterfield has been elected the next chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “The new Congress provides a fresh start to address the issues that are important to us all. Members of the CBC come from every region of the country. While we each have our own priorities, we speak with a singular, powerful voice in our fight to deliver on the expectations of Americans — to have a government that works for us all," said the former judge. (Photo: Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer/ MCT /LANDOV)

Will They or Won't They? - Despite the ideological differences, the CBC has invited both representatives-elect Will Hurd (Texas) and Mia Love (Utah), both Republicans, to join the caucus. “They’re great members, and I’m looking forward to working with them,” Hurd told the Dallas Morning News. “Whether or not I join the [caucus], we haven’t made that decision.” In an interview with Deseret News, Mia Love said that she would join the group and "do everything I can to put this message out there that these issues that we're facing in our country, they're not Black-white issues. They're American issues." (Photos from left: Will Hurd for Congress, Courtesy Mia Love United States Congress)

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Will They or Won't They? - Despite the ideological differences, the CBC has invited both representatives-elect Will Hurd (Texas) and Mia Love (Utah), both Republicans, to join the caucus. “They’re great members, and I’m looking forward to working with them,” Hurd told the Dallas Morning News. “Whether or not I join the [caucus], we haven’t made that decision.” In an interview with Deseret News, Mia Love said that she would join the group and "do everything I can to put this message out there that these issues that we're facing in our country, they're not Black-white issues. They're American issues." (Photos from left: Will Hurd for Congress, Courtesy Mia Love United States Congress)

He's a Decider - Sen. Tim Scott is enjoying the perks of majority rule. The South Carolina lawmaker has been appointed by his party's leadership to help decide who will sit on what committees. The Senate divides its tasks among 20 committees, 68 subcommittees, and four joint committees. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Senate/Renee Bouchard)

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He's a Decider - Sen. Tim Scott is enjoying the perks of majority rule. The South Carolina lawmaker has been appointed by his party's leadership to help decide who will sit on what committees. The Senate divides its tasks among 20 committees, 68 subcommittees, and four joint committees. (Photo: Courtesy U.S. Senate/Renee Bouchard)