Immigration Executive Order Update: Senate Democrats Want Obama to Delay Immigration Order, But Action Will Come 'Soon'
President Barack Obama has made it known he plans to issue an executive order to address the immigration system in the U.S. due to lack of progress in Congress, but some Democratic lawmakers are hoping he could delay his decision until after November's midterm elections.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, reportedly wants Obama to announce any executive order after November. Other Democrats have voiced similar worries. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., said he has "concerns" regarding executive action while Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said it could be a "mistake" for Obama to issue an executive order.
According to Politico, Democrats are concerned about their re-election odds and hopes to retain control of the Senate. The White House has previously stated a decision would come in late August or early September, pending recommendations from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. Now in September, a debate over immigration before Election Day could harm Senate Democrats in the voting booths.
White House officials have said Obama has not decided how to address the immigration crisis, or when.
While attending the NATO Summit in Cardiff, Wales, Obama commented on immigration. The president said Attorney General Eric Holder and DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson have started to provide "some" proposals and recommendations on immigration. Obama added that "fairly soon" he will consider the next steps for immigration.
"We had bipartisan action in the Senate. The House Republicans have sat on it for over a year. That has damaged the economy, it has held America back. It is a mistake," said Obama during a NATO press conference Friday. "And in the absence of congressional action, I intend to take action to make sure that we're putting more resources on the border, that we're upgrading how we process these cases, and that we find a way to encourage legal immigration and give people some path so that they can start paying taxes and pay a fine and learn English and be able to not look over their shoulder but be legal, since they've been living here for quite some time."
Obama said he will probably look into the proposals and recommendations during his flight back to the U.S.
Although Obama was asked if Democrats have influenced the delayed announcement of an executive order, he did not directly respond to the question.
"I'll be making an announcement soon," said Obama.
As Latin Post reported, more than 136 law professors wrote a letter to Obama assuring him he has the "legal authority" to undertake executive action, as it will be as "equally lawful" as the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in 2012. The letter noted DHS has the ability to decide how immigration laws in the U.S. are implemented, and previous presidents have a "long history" of extending similar deportation relief to individuals or groups.