Senate Democratic leaders sent a letter to President Barack Obama Monday supporting his plan to pass major immigration reforms through executive action.
“Like you, we are greatly disappointed and frustrated that House Republicans failed to take up immigration reform legislation” stated the letter, which was signed by Sens. Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer, Patty Murray, Bob Menendez and Michael Bennet. Reid, Durbin, Schumer and Murray are all part of the Democrats’ leadership team.
The letter claimed that the Senate-passed immigration reform bill would “easily” pass the House, but that Republicans have not acted.
“Because House Republicans have not acted, we fully support your decision to use your well-established executive authority to improve as much of the immigration system as you can,” the letter continues.
“Some Republicans are claiming that you do not have the authority to act, but we know that you, like previous presidents, have broad executive authority to shape the enforcement and implementation of immigration laws,” the Democrats wrote. “This authority includes exercising prosecutorial discretion to refine deportation policies, deferring deportations on a case-by-case basis, and streamlining the legal immigration system.”