With immigration reform stalled in the Republican-controlled Congress, we call on President Obama to use his executive authority to put an end to the deportation of U.S. citizens’ families, DREAM Act eligible youth, and their parents.

Nearly three years after the inauguration of President Barack Obama, American families are still being torn apart by our broken immigration system.  As a candidate, President Obama promised immigrant families and their allies comprehensive immigration reform – relief to their very real fears that they are one broken taillight away from losing a daughter, mother, father, or son.  As President, Obama has not only failed to deliver on his promise but the plight of immigrant families has worsened.  Last year, the Obama administration deported 392,862 undocumented immigrants - a record high.  In 2009, the administration deported 387,790 people. These numbers cannot speak to the pain a child feels for the loss of their parent, or a parent feels for the loss of their daughter or son. 

On April 13, 2011 twenty-two senators sent a letter to President Obama asking him to use his "prosecutorial discretion" to put an end to the deportation of undocumented students.  Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D, IL-4), chair of the immigration task force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, goes further, asking the President in a nationwide campaign to “stop the deportations of the families of U.S. citizens, [and] young people who should have been legalized via the DREAM Act…” We couldn’t agree more.  It is clear that President Obama, as the chief executive of the United States, has the authority to direct ICE to stop the detention and deportation of anyone he chooses.  As Congressman Gutierrez stated – “The president of the United States decided one morning that there was genocide in Libya and he was going to take the side of Libya and that they needed our help. He didn't ask the Congress. He didn't hold a meeting. He used the discretion he has."  

President Obama, use the discretion you have to deliver on the relief you promised immigrant families over two years ago: Deportation Moratorium Now!