{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://titus.house.gov//press-releases/titus-116-house-democrats-send-letter-to-the-president-urging-executive-action-on", "Titus, 116 House Democrats Send Letter to the President Urging Executive Action on Immigration", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "November 17, 2014\nThe full text of the letter can be read here:\nNovember 13, 2014\nDear Mr. President:\nIt is most unfortunate that Republican leaders in the House refused to allow a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill the Senate passed last year. Even today, if Republican leaders allowed a vote, the bill would pass. But they won\u2019t.\nWhen Republicans blocked legislation, your pledge to use Presidential power under existing law to improve our immigration system gave us hope. Without such changes, our economy will continue to suffer and families in our communities will continue to be torn apart.\nAlthough we were very disappointed when you postponed action until after the November election, we were encouraged last week when you reaffirmed your promise to act before the end of the year.\nWe hope that your actions will prevent the separation of undocumented family members of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and DACA beneficiaries and offer protection to others who have long worked in the United States and have established strong ties with our communities.\u00a0We similarly hope that you will recognize that undocumented farmworkers are \u201cessential for agriculture\u201d and that our country would benefit greatly if they were permitted to work in our fields without fear.\u00a0 We further hope that you will reform our immigration enforcement efforts to make them more sensible and humane.\nBold and meaningful executive action will provide a boost to our national and local economies.\nIt will strengthen communities and promote family unity. It will help the government focus limited enforcement resources on those who pose a true danger to the public. And by providing an opportunity for millions of undocumented immigrants to register with the government\u2014provide detailed biographic information, undergo criminal background checks, demonstrate continuing compliance with tax laws\u2014it will protect American and immigrant workers alike by reducing the threat of exploitation and abuse.\nThe legal authority for taking executive action is clear and substantial. Just two years ago, the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts reaffirmed that the administration retains \u201cbroad discretion\u201d to decide \u201cwhether it makes sense to pursue removal at all.\u201d Arizona v. United States, 132 S.Ct. 2492, 2499 (2012). And executive action in this area is anything but unprecedented. In fact, every past President starting from President Dwight D. Eisenhower more than half a century ago has used such authority when dealing with similar issues regarding the national interest.\nLike us, you have heard Republicans warn that any actions you take will \u201cpoison the well\u201d and prevent them from using their upcoming majority in the Senate to address our broken immigration system. However, for the past two years it was not Senate Democrats that blocked much-needed legislation, it was House Republicans. That obstacle to sensible immigration reform still remains. Let us also not forget that congressional Republicans previously blocked reform in 2006 and 2007.\nAs you said last week, \u201cWhat we can\u2019t do is just keep on waiting. There\u2019s a cost for waiting.\u201d That cost is measured in the tens of thousands of parents of U.S. citizen children who are deported each year. It is measured in the emotional price children and DACA recipients pay worrying about whether their parents will come home at the end of the day. Our national security suffers whenever we spend precious enforcement resources on hardworking immigrant families, rather than on criminals and those who mean our communities harm.\u00a0 And American workers\u2019 wages and working conditions are consistently undermined as long as millions of immigrant workers are working in the shadows and off the books. We agree with you, Mr. President. We can no longer afford to wait.\nAs you have said, it is ultimately the job of Congress to reform our broken immigration system by enacting legislation. But by failing to do their job\u2014and repeatedly interfering with your efforts to do your job\u2014congressional Republicans threaten to take our immigration system hostage and preserve a status quo that everyone agrees is unacceptable. Their failure to act must not inhibit your commitment to governing.\nWe will stand with you as you take bold and meaningful action, consistent with existing law and historical precedent, to protect American families, strengthen local communities and grow the economy.\nSincerely,\nMembers of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://titus.house.gov//press-releases/titus-116-house-democrats-send-letter-to-the-president-urging-executive-action-on"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8754841983318329, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}