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Immigration tensions bubble up among Democrats as midterms near Immigration tensions bubble up among Democrats as midterms near
(about 20 hours later)
Tensions within the Democratic party over immigration burst into the open on Wednesday as pro-reform campaigners accused party moderates in the Senate of leaning on the White House to delay action until after November’s midterm elections.Tensions within the Democratic party over immigration burst into the open on Wednesday as pro-reform campaigners accused party moderates in the Senate of leaning on the White House to delay action until after November’s midterm elections.
Luis Gutiérrez, a Chicago congressman and leading proponent of immigration reform in the House of Representatives, urged unnamed critics in the Senate to stand aside and let president Obama take executive action to reduce deportations without delay.Luis Gutiérrez, a Chicago congressman and leading proponent of immigration reform in the House of Representatives, urged unnamed critics in the Senate to stand aside and let president Obama take executive action to reduce deportations without delay.
“I think I know what’s in the presidents heart, so I say to the Democrats: stand aside,” Gutiérrez said in a joint conference call with several Washington campaign groups. “I think I know what’s in the president’s heart, so I say to the Democrats: stand aside,” Gutiérrez said in a joint conference call with several Washington campaign groups.
“Let the president make the decision, let him announce it and stop stopping the progress of our community toward justice. Just step aside.”“Let the president make the decision, let him announce it and stop stopping the progress of our community toward justice. Just step aside.”
The White House had previously promised to complete a review of its legal options and announce concrete measures before the end of the summer but has grown increasingly vague on timing in recent days amid rumoured pressure from Senate campaign teams worried about the impact on their midterm electoral chances.The White House had previously promised to complete a review of its legal options and announce concrete measures before the end of the summer but has grown increasingly vague on timing in recent days amid rumoured pressure from Senate campaign teams worried about the impact on their midterm electoral chances.
Though none have criticised Obama’s immigration policy in public, Democrats running in tight races such as North Carolina, Louisiana and Arkansas are thought to be worried that executive action on such a controversial topic could distract voters during the crucial last few weeks of their campaigns and possibly allow Republicans to win the six seats needed to gain control of the Senate.Though none have criticised Obama’s immigration policy in public, Democrats running in tight races such as North Carolina, Louisiana and Arkansas are thought to be worried that executive action on such a controversial topic could distract voters during the crucial last few weeks of their campaigns and possibly allow Republicans to win the six seats needed to gain control of the Senate.
But others in the party, particularly some House Democrats, who are already the minority party in the lower chamber and possibly more worried about turnout from party loyalists, argue that delaying a decision is both politically unnecessary and dishonest.But others in the party, particularly some House Democrats, who are already the minority party in the lower chamber and possibly more worried about turnout from party loyalists, argue that delaying a decision is both politically unnecessary and dishonest.
“It is better that the president make this decision now, clearly before the American public, in a transparent manner before the election,” said Gutiérrez.“It is better that the president make this decision now, clearly before the American public, in a transparent manner before the election,” said Gutiérrez.
“Let’s not be afraid for standing for our values. I think if we do that, the American people will respect that.”“Let’s not be afraid for standing for our values. I think if we do that, the American people will respect that.”
Latino campaign groups are growing steadily impatient with Democrats and warn of political retribution if Obama abandons his pledge to take executive action.Latino campaign groups are growing steadily impatient with Democrats and warn of political retribution if Obama abandons his pledge to take executive action.
“This is a defining moment,” said Lorella Praeli, director of advocacy and policy for United We Dream, who accused the administration of lacking “a political backbone”.“This is a defining moment,” said Lorella Praeli, director of advocacy and policy for United We Dream, who accused the administration of lacking “a political backbone”.
“The ball is in the president’s court. Is he going to lead with courage, is he going to show there is a clear distinction here between these two political parties, or is he going succumb to Republican’s threats and fear and continue to put politics over families?”“The ball is in the president’s court. Is he going to lead with courage, is he going to show there is a clear distinction here between these two political parties, or is he going succumb to Republican’s threats and fear and continue to put politics over families?”
Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro of the National Council of La Raza, the largest Hispanic civil rights group, added: “We are deeply disappointed to hear that some may be advocating for a delay. It is a bad day in our country when the prescription for an acute problem is to do nothing.”Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro of the National Council of La Raza, the largest Hispanic civil rights group, added: “We are deeply disappointed to hear that some may be advocating for a delay. It is a bad day in our country when the prescription for an acute problem is to do nothing.”
“We think this a bad decision from policy and political perspective and a few Democrats should not stand in the way.”“We think this a bad decision from policy and political perspective and a few Democrats should not stand in the way.”
Their intervention coincided with a letter on Wednesday from 100 immigration law professors arguing that Obama has clear legal authority to take executive action ordering authorities to slow down deportations in the absence of more lasting reform legislation from Congress.Their intervention coincided with a letter on Wednesday from 100 immigration law professors arguing that Obama has clear legal authority to take executive action ordering authorities to slow down deportations in the absence of more lasting reform legislation from Congress.
Nevertheless, Republicans are increasingly united in their opposition to what many believe would be an “amnesty” and with opinion polls consistently showing races in six key Senate races balanced on a knife edge, the White House is showing growing signs of wanting to delay its promised decision.Nevertheless, Republicans are increasingly united in their opposition to what many believe would be an “amnesty” and with opinion polls consistently showing races in six key Senate races balanced on a knife edge, the White House is showing growing signs of wanting to delay its promised decision.
On Wednesday White House spokesman Josh Earnest revealed that Obama had yet to receive a promised report from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security on his legal options, let alone make a final decision.On Wednesday White House spokesman Josh Earnest revealed that Obama had yet to receive a promised report from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security on his legal options, let alone make a final decision.
“The secretary of homeland security and the attorney general are in the midst of a review to determine what sort of action the president himself can take unilaterally to address these challenges,” he said.“The secretary of homeland security and the attorney general are in the midst of a review to determine what sort of action the president himself can take unilaterally to address these challenges,” he said.
“In terms of the timing, we’ll have to wait and see what the timing ultimately ends up being here. But the president’s determination to act and his commitment to acting has not changed in any way.”“In terms of the timing, we’ll have to wait and see what the timing ultimately ends up being here. But the president’s determination to act and his commitment to acting has not changed in any way.”