White House Resists Push to Stop Deportations, Members of Congress Say

Bloomberg: The White House is urging lawmakers to back away from a campaign led by Hispanic Democrats to block deportations involving U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants, a move that risks antagonizing Latino voters crucial to President Barack Obama's re-election. Several members of Congress who were scheduled to attend a March 31 news conference on the issue said administration officials contacted them to voice concern about their participation. Until U.S. immigration law is overhauled, the lawmakers say, Obama should use his executive power to protect families facing deportation or separation because at least one parent is an illegal immigrant. "The staffers that are attached to us, the liaisons, they transmitted some concern," said Representative Mike Honda of California, a former chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, referring to the White House legislative affairs office. "They would have loved us not to have gone to the press conference." Honda, a Japanese-American, attended with other officials, including Asian and black lawmakers, even after getting a call, because it's "not only about Hispanics," he said. "I want to broaden that so people don't think just brown." At least three Democrats -- Representatives Honda, Judy Chu of California and Keith Ellison of Minnesota -- said they were contacted about the event. Representatives Yvette Clarke of New York and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who, like Ellison, are members of the Congressional Black Caucus, were scheduled to attend and didn't, according to their offices. Neither Clarke nor Lee could be reached for comment.