Speaking on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” July 1, Democratic Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez not only endorsed President Obama’s efforts to take executive action on immigration reform, but he also asserted that Obama has legal authority to do so. (RELATED: Obama’s Threat To Change Immigration Laws Without Congress Meets Resistance)
“If [Republicans] want to come back and discuss this, fine,” Gutierrez said. “But in the interim period, I believe the president of the United States has, already in statute, in the law, the ability to heal and put in a safe harbor millions of undocumented immigrants while the Congress of the United States finally decides that it’s going to take action.”
For example, regarding the undocumented spouses of military service members, Gutierrez asserted, “The president can simply parole them in place and say, ‘You know what? On with your lives. Here is your green card and move forward.'”
Gutierrez didn’t attempt to limit Obama’s use of executive power to that particular scenario, either.
“So, there are many things the president can do,” he continued. “Just as Republicans have said, ‘No, no, no,’ I expect the president to be broad and expansive and generous in the use of his prosecutorial discretion.”
[h/t www.mediaite.com]