Democratic Lawmakers Encouraged To Mobilize For Executive Amnesty

Democratic House members are mobilizing to prepare undocumented immigrants to sign up for President Obama’s executive amnesty, Congressional Hispanic Caucus members say.

Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) explained that his office and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer’s (D-MD) office have made packets outlining how to organize events to prepare and encourage undocumented immigrants to sign up for deferred action. Those packets, he said, have been distributed to every member of the Democratic caucus.

“Each member of the Democratic caucus has been encouraged to set up an activity in their congressional district during the breaks. We will set them up,” Gutiérrez, who has already been touring the country promoting the efforts, told reporters at a Congressional Hispanic Caucus press conference.

Members of the CHC spoke about their efforts to encourage as many people as possible to sign up for the president’s executive amnesty.

“We’re getting ready, we’re gonna sign them up by the hundreds of thousands, we’re going o get millions of people ready with the law once again and free them from the fear of deportation,” Gutiérrez said.

“We’re here today to encourage those people who will qualify under the president’s new directives to come in to sign up to get ready,” Rep. Loretta Sánchez (D-CA) said.

Sanchez explained the they are working with stakeholders, nonprofits, and other stakeholders to ensure that those who qualify are able to get sign up.

Of how many members are participating Sanchez said that members have been approaching her, Gutiérrez, and CHC chairwoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) daily about the matter.

“Each and every Democratic member of our caucus not only has the packet but I would say, a good 90 percent of them have talked to me about how to get this done,” Loretta Sánchez said

Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus Xavier Becerra (D-CA) called the executive actions a “game changer.”

“It’s up to us to work together to make sure that all those families are prepared, that our country is prepared, and that our security is prepared because this is the first step in getting real comprehensive immigration reform done,” Becerra said, adding that the Congress still needs to pass a permanent bill.

The members also took Republicans to task for trying to block on the president’s executive actions and their agenda.

Rep. Joaquín Castro (R-TX) argued that the Republican Congress’ priories such as pushing back against the president’s executive actions as well as opposing Obamacare and increases to the minimum wage.

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