Congress of the United States Basljington, BE 20515 December 7, 2016 President Hareck Obama The White House 1600 Pennsyivania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20502 Dear Mr. President: We write to reiterate and clarify our time sensitive request that you grant Presidential pardons to those who your Administration has vetted and granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) stats. In response toa recent congressional letter asking you to pardon beneficiaries ofthe DACA program, the White House stated “the clemency power could not give legal status to any undocumented individual. As we have repeatedly suid for years, only Congress can creat legal status for ‘undocumented individuals” Your Director ofthe Domestic Policy Council has also made similar remarks First, as U.S. Congressmen and women, we are well aware thet itis within our power and not yours te pass laws that establish pathways to Tegal satus for undocumented immigrants. In fact, we have worked tirelessly throughout your Administration and previous Administrations to achieve this aim. It emains a first and foremost goal for us as legislators. Second, we reiterate our request for you to use your Constitutional authority to provide pardons for civil immigration violations. Just as Article I, Section 8 ofthe U.S. Constitution delegates to Congress the authority to establish a “uniform Rule of Naturalization,” Aticl I, Section 2 delegates sole authority tothe President to grant “Pardons for Offences against the United States.” The ‘Constitution specifically doesnot limit the pardon power to criminal ofenses. We ask forthe narrow reprieve of a retroactive and prospective pardon of categorical civil immigration violations for a ‘unique eroup of young immigrants wha have placed thei rst in both you as thie President and us 1s their lawmakers, To be clear we are not asking you to “ereat legal status." We believe that this action is eritcl, although it doesnot create legal status, because for many DREAMets it could clear a path oa legal satus that already exists under curent law. Providing protection and stability for immigrants isa shared goal, especially at atime when fear and "uncertainty in our communities is at an all-time high. ‘Therefore, we urgs you 1o reconsider and exercise your Constitutional authority to provide pardons to young people who are American in every way but on paper. Sincerely, aQl owt ALANS. LOWENTHAL Member of Congress =< ICSWALWELT. “Member of Congress Gfaein oor SAQUIN CASTRO ‘Member of Congress MIKE We ey : ‘Member of Congress Av a Ae ‘COLEMAN “Member of Congress Mh FREDERICA 8. Wi Member of Congress ‘MICHELLE EOIAN CRISHAM ‘Member of Congress FRANK PALLONE, JR. Member of Congress Member of Congress. he Bes ~ ‘Member of Congress Member of Congress pie ie = Member of Congress Bin To_ DINATITUS Member of Congress Page 2 of SSTeot 1. LB Fe W.LEU DONALDS. BEYER Monier of Corsecs Monier of Colecs, Bhs ‘Member of Congress Agee Pratte SUZANNE BONAMICI Member of Congress Member of Congres EARL BLUMENAUER Debbie Wemraceeascthe fy Menber of Cress MenerofCongess RUBEN GALLEGO f E AGUILAR 7 ‘Member of Congress: Member of Congress. OReveke. otage meta BETO OROURKE Meir orcs Member of Congess Kez, kay tor CRAY Liked C Goo CAPER Menber of Congress Memter of Congres SRD POS 105 1 Member of Gongres M; fof Congres Page 3 of S\THLEEN MICE, TONY, IAS Member of Congress Member of Congress RAUDSCGRIALY: TAN VARGAS ‘Member of Congress of Congress ‘MICHAEL M. HONDA DAVIDE PRICE Member of Congress Member of Congress RICK LARSEN Member of Congress ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON Member of Congress t 'E, SERRANO DAVIDN. CIct MOE “Member of Congress Member of Congress Page 4 of 5> d, factaoce Paka Pad ‘SHILA JACKSON(EE Sota Yincpaee NHINOK Member of Congress ‘Member of Congress IS fin Basho ae? “Member of Congress ‘Member of Congress @ ‘WELCH ‘Member of Congress ‘ADAM B. SCHIFF ‘Member of Congress /SCHAKOWSKY ‘GENE GREEN BRAD SHERMAN Member of Cor Member of Congress AL OREEN hhember of Congress Page 5 of S