Durbin: Don’t Deport People Who Haven’t Committed A ‘Serious Crime’

FILE - This Friday, June 13, 2014, file photo shows Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., right, joined by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, as he speaks during a news conference in Chicago. Islamic militants' growing inf... FILE - This Friday, June 13, 2014, file photo shows Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., right, joined by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, as he speaks during a news conference in Chicago. Islamic militants' growing influence in Iraq and Syria are a threat to Americans, lawmakers from both political parties agreed Sunday even as they sharply disagreed on what role the United States should play in crushing them. (AP Photo/Stacy Thacker, File) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on President Barack Obama to extend deportation relief to the parents and families of young undocumented immigrants who’ve received “deferred action.”

In an interview with Univision set to air Sunday, Durbin also called for granting reprieve to those who have been living in the U.S. but have not committed a “serious crime.”

“I know the President wants to do the right thing, and I support him. I want him to move to the point where we are not deporting for example the parents and families of Dreamers. Where we are saying, if you have not created or committed any serious crime, we are not going to deport you. Let us try to keep families intact until Congress meets its responsibility and passes an immigration reform bill,” the No. 2 Senate Democrat said.

Durbin said there’s “no connection whatsoever” between Obama’s 2012 deferred action program, or DACA, and the influx of unaccompanied minors at the southwestern border. Republicans have pushed to end DACA, blaming it for the recent surge of Central American migrants apprehended at the border.

Obama’s aides say he’ll announce a major executive action on immigration by the end of summer. Durbin, an original sponsor of the DREAM Act, is a staunch Obama ally; the two served together as Illinois senators.

Latest Livewire
16
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for topcat topcat says:

    So begins the foundation laying for President Obama to “Go Big” on his executive action on immigration…which seems pretty clear he has decided to do.

  2. Thank you, Senator Durbin. Once upon a time, this was our immigration SOP.

  3. But of COURSE these people have committed a serious crime, Senator! To wit:

    1. They’re not white
    2. They might vote Democrat

    “Pre-Emptive Voter Intimidation”, from the same people who brought you “Pre-emptive War!”

  4. Durbin will not be popular among republicans for this.

  5. Avatar for fitley fitley says:

    For people who do not follow history, this is like just before last election. Obama WILL do his executive order just like he’s been saying he will. Durbin is just providing one more clue to the clueless. You’ll see. Read about it and weep teasquats.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

10 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for nickdanger Avatar for radicalcentrist Avatar for topcat Avatar for fitley Avatar for smokinthegotp Avatar for darrtown Avatar for akjm Avatar for occamsrazor2 Avatar for jonritchey Avatar for kols

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher & Digital Producer:
Senior Developer:
Senior Designer: