White House officials revealed on Saturday that President Barack Obama intends to delay any action on immigration reform until after the November midterm elections.
They said that Obama decided on Friday that by issuing executive orders while everyone is out campaigning could hurt chances of reform and issuing executive orders would further politicize the issue, The Associated Press reports.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the president plans to act by the end of the year, which angered immigration advocates but could help some Democrats fighting for reelection.
"The reality the President has had to weigh is that we're in the midst of the political season, and because of the Republicans' extreme politicization of the issue, the President believes it would be harmful to the policy itself and to the long-term prospects for comprehensive immigration reform to announce administrative action before the elections," one official said, according to CBS News.
Obama previously said earlier in the summer that he was frustrated with Congress making no headway on immigration reform and planned to essentially go it alone, but it's likely that Democrats in tight Senate races approached the president and asked him to delay any action.
He has previously indicated that he would prefer any reform come from Congress, but the House has refused to even look at the current Senate bill and has yet to introduce any legislation of their own.
image courtesy of INFphoto.com
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