Why President Obama Had to Act on Immigration

For President Barack Obama, Thursday night’s address to the nation was about much more than changing immigration policy. It was about changing a narrative that has recently defined his presidency: that he draws red lines and doesn’t follow through.

The most infamous blow to Mr. Obama’s credibility on setting red lines and following through came last year when he said Syria’s use of chemical weapons would be a “red line” that would draw a military response from the U.S. When Syrian President Bashar al-Assad crossed that red line, Mr. Obama...