In reaction to the press conference in which Democratic members of Congress stepped up calls for the President to exercise discretion in immigration enforcement to stop unnecessary deportations, Pablo Alvarado, executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network issued the following statement: "The President has the legal authority to exercise discretion in immigration enforcement, and to date, that authority has been exercised poorly. The truth is that the President's approach has been to the detriment of immigrant families and to the detriment of prospects for legislative reform. It is time for the President to lead by example by doing everything within his power to ease suffering and set US immigration policy back on track. We renew our call for the President to stop deportations at the very least for those who would qualify for legalization under the Senate bill, end his failed S-Comm program, and expand deferred action to the maximum extent permitted by law. He has options available to him. It's time for him to use them." Read more