One day after speaking to the largest Latino conference in the U.S., Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley spoke in depth about his immigration plans and revealed he would issue an executive order on his first day in the Oval Office.

During a roundtable discussion in New York City on Tuesday morning, O'Malley revealed his progressive plan to fix the immigration system. Also referring to immigrants as "New Americans," O'Malley recognized that immigrants have suffered enough in waiting for legislation action and deserve the right to know they can legally work, contribute in society and safely return home to their children. According to the former Maryland governor, the next president must provide assurances to the undocumented immigrant community.

"Immigration reform is an urgent, national economic imperative, and immigration reform is an urgent, national security imperative," said O'Malley, who also called for higher wages. "Our fight for immigration reform is about bringing more of our neighbors out of the shadow economy and into the full light of an open and inclusive American economy."

According to O'Malley, some immigration reform policies would be implemented on his first day, if elected, in the White House. The first key point in O'Malley's immigration plan include applying deferred action to "the greatest possible number of New Americans" through executive order, which would provide immediate relief from deportation with work authorization to all individuals who are covered in the Senate's 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill (S. 744 - Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act). The second plan is to grant broad waivers to 3- or-10-year bar for individuals who have received a green card.

"We needlessly tear families apart when we should be taking actions that keep families together. We punish those who enter the country or overstay visas, even if they are eligible to legally remain in the United States. I would therefore grant broad waivers"

The governor acknowledged that more than 8 million legal permanent residents are eligible to become naturalized U.S. citizens but the process is "difficult and intimidating." As a result, O'Malley proposes expanding access to naturalization through local outreach and education.

O'Malley's fourth plan includes expanding healthcare coverage for New Americans. O'Malley said he would achieve this by rescinding the regulations barring legal permanent residents from receiving health insurance and restore health care access to 5.2 million people.

On immigration detention, O'Malley said he would end the detention of non-dangerous immigrants and their families, close the "inhumane" facilities and limit detention to only individuals who pose a clear threat to public safety.

The Democratic presidential candidate also called for the creation of an independent agency within the executive branch to set U.S. immigration policy. The agency would develop recommendations to Congress for lawmakers who can then regularly adjust immigration levels and eligibility criteria.

"Above all, I would use executive action, to the fullest extent allowable of my authority as president of the United States, to push Congress to pass comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform because that is best for the people of the United States of America," said O'Malley.

While executive action is on the table, O'Malley told Latin Post that, during the course of the campaign, he intends to form a new consensus on immigration reform and will talk to leaders in Congress.

O'Malley said, "It would be nice if [Congress] just voted for things because it is the right thing to do, but everyone comes with their different perspectives and their different opinions and, as an executive, you have to dedicate yourself to spending time understanding where others are coming from."

O'Malley's roundtable discussion comes a little more than two months after fellow Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton held her own roundtable discussion with people affected by immigration. As Latin Post reported, Clinton -- as is O'Malley -- is in favor for a pathway to citizenship and act on further executive privileges.

Clinton said during an event in Las Vegas on May 5, "If Congress continues to refuse to act, as president, I would do everything possible under the law to go even further. There are more people like many parents of DREAMers and others with deep ties and contributions to our communities who deserve a chance to stay, and I will fight for them."

O'Malley and Clinton both said they preferred comprehensive immigration reform to pass through Congress.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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