OPINION

The President's decision to delay executive action on immigration reform until after the midterm elections was a disappointing setback for the Latino community. The President's decision to put political considerations over sound policy signaled that the Latino community's concerns were less important than appealing to swing voters in closely contested congressional elections.

President Obama made the passage of immigration reform a campaign priority in both his 2008 and 2012 election campaigns. Yet not only has the President failed to convince Congress to pass reform, he has also reneged on his commitment to take executive action at the end of summer had Congress failed to act.

It is important to remember that the President's decision is not without cost. Delaying action affects real families. Specifically, every day more than 1,110 people are deported — which includes on average 500 parents being separated from their children. In fact, between the day of the President's announcement of his delay and Election Day, more than 70,000 people will be deported.

Delaying reform would also adversely impact our economy. In fact, according to a June 2013 Congressional Budget Office report, immigration reform would decrease the federal budget deficits by $158 billion over the 2014 - 2023 period and by $685 billion over the 2024 - 2033 period. Reform would also boost economic output and increase GDP by 3.3 percent in 2023 and by 5.4 percent in 2033. Congress's failure to pass immigration reform has cost the American people $15.8 billion a year, $1.3 billion a month, or $43 million a day in potential economic gains and deficit reduction.

Latinos are justifiably angry that their policy priority keeps getting shunted aside. However, if we expect things to change, then we need to act to change them. And the best way to put immigration reform back on the top of the national agenda is to ensure that our community turns out to vote in record numbers this November. LULAC is doing its part by mobilizing its large network of volunteers by conducting voter education and registration campaigns. More than ever before, our vote is our voice. If we turn out and vote in the numbers we are capable of, then we have the power to change the dynamic on immigration reform overnight.

As a partner in an unprecedented coalition of national Latino, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander advocacy groups, LULAC recently released an immigration reform score card that rated how each representative acted on immigration reform. We will use the score card to educate Latino voters in the coming weeks on whether their Member of Congress championed immigration reform, did nothing, or blocked legislation.

The Latino community will not take no for an answer — not when the livelihood and even lives of so many of our family members are at stake. For more information on how you can register to vote and help make a difference go to www.LULAC.org/act.