Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) is urging President Obama to be “bold” on immigration reform, warning there will be a “fight” for the Democratic Party if he fails to act decisively.
Gutiérrez and other liberal Democrats, along with immigration reform advocates, have pushed the Obama administration to ease its deportation policies for immigrant families, warning that continued inaction could alienate Hispanic voters.
{mosads}”You know, if they don’t do it, I will tell you that there will be a fight for the Democratic nomination and a fight for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party,” Gutiérrez warned Tuesday in an interview on MSNBC.
He said there are signals from the White House that the president will make a major move, and encouraged such action.
“You know everybody said, oh it’s already written – his legacy. No it isn’t. It will be written in the next 45 days when it comes vis-à-vis the immigration policy of this president,” Gutiérrezsaid on election night.
“Be bold, be generous, be a Democrat,” he added.
The Illinois lawmaker has wasted no time calling on Obama to limit deportations and is scheduled to host a press conference Wednesday in Chicago on the topic.
The president could allow 2 million to 3 million immigrants in the country illegally to stay in the U.S. but Gutiérrez would like that figure to be closer to 5 milion to 6 million.
“Pick a date, Mr. President, but pick a date that is broad, that is sweeping and that really fits,” he said for Obama to act. He added that the president “has to stand up for a community of people who have stood up for him.”
He said he believed Obama would act.
“The question is – is it gonna be a half a loaf or a full loaf?”