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Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO): Obama Should Take Action on Deportations

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Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) today became the latest Senator to call upon Obama to slow his record rate of deportations if Congress does not pass immigration reform.  As he said on KBNO, a Spanish-language radio station in Denver (emphasis ours):

Each day that House Republicans refuse to act on immigration reform is another day Colorado families continue to be torn apart, another day our economy suffers and another day entire communities must live in fear.

If Republicans in Congress won’t act on behalf of Colorado families and businesses or the millions of immigrants living in the shadows, then the president should take action to stop tearing apart families whose only crime is seeking a better life for themselves.

Udall’s position puts him miles ahead of Rep. Cory Gardner, the Republican who will be his challenger this fall, when it comes to immigration reform and Latino voters.  As Lorella Praeli, Director of Advocacy and Policy at United We Dream, said in response to the comments today:

We are pleased that Senator Udall recognizes that our families remain in need of relief and reform now. Sen. Udall and his fellow Democratic Senators have done everything they can to fight for immigration reform legislation this Congress.  We now welcome their commitment to bring that same pressure to fighting for the broadest possible administrative relief for our families.

Gardner doesn’t even support a path to citizenship.  He’s voted with Steve King multiple times on amendments and bills that would lead to the deportation of DREAMers (and the family members of military vets).  As Greg Sargent at the Washington Post has pointed out repeatedly, the actions of Republicans like Gardner are evidence that a large chunk of the GOP is not so distinct from Steve King.  Republicans like Gardner want more deportations.  Sen. Mark Udall wants to slow deportations, and stop tearing families apart.  One of those is going to be a lot more attractive to the Latino voters who make up 13% of Colorado’s electorate.