In a mad dash to protect illegal immigrants fearful of being deported under a Trump presidency, several pro-immigrant leaders Monday called on Obama to pardon all undocumented immigrants and expand the network of law-breaking sanctuary cities.
“This is not a political issue; but rather a moral imperative. It’s time for President Obama to use his constitutional powers to protect vulnerable individuals and families and pardon communities from an administration intent on doing harm to those whom the bible calls, ‘the least of these,'” said Bishop Dwayne Royster, political director for PICO National Network.
The group of faith based organizations is also calling on Obama to release low-level drug offenders.
Granting a pardon to illegals would likely result in national anger from supporters of President-elect Donald Trump who ran on a platform that included completing a wall between Mexico and the U.S. and deporting criminal aliens, up to 3 million.
A pardon, instead, would set the stage for mass citizenship, a situation that Trump and is attorney general nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions, would likely fight.
The group plans to protest on Capitol Hill near the Supreme Court for their plan on Thursday. They had previously planned to go to the White House.
“Everyone has a role to play in protecting the most vulnerable in our communities,” said Royster. “From President Obama who has the power to protect families in an historic moment to local elected officials who can declare their municipalities sanctuary cities to U.S. senators, who can vote against immoral policies, no one should sit on the sidelines during a fight about who belongs and who does not.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
