“For too long, communities throughout the country have been waiting for Congress and President Obama to make good on their promises of immigration reform and it’s long past due for them to finally deliver. The President made a political decision to delay executive action until after the election – a decision that was wrong, short sighted and only led to more families being callously split up by an immigration system in desperate need of reform.

In the absence of federal leadership, the New York City Council has stepped up to be a national leader for immigrant communities by passing landmark legislation to create a municipal ID program, funding lawyers for unaccompanied minors and others facing deportation and ending the City’s cooperation with federal authorities that seek to detain immigrant without probable cause. New York City will continue to lead at the municipal level, but urgent federal action is needed.

The President has a chance once again to turn his immigration rhetoric into reality and he must act now. We can’t wait.”

###