Sen. David Vitter, R-La., on Sunday said he and his colleagues are still looking for answers on whether the administration has seriously considered mass legalization for illegal immigrants, after an administration memo surfaced outlining ways to grant legalization without going through Congress.
The draft memo, first obtained by Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley's office from the U.S. Customs & Immigration Services, outlines ways the administration was exploring to legalize swaths of illegal immigrants "in the absence of Comprehensive Immigration Reform." The memo describes how to, "reduce the threat of removal for certain individuals present in the United States without authorization."
Several Republican senators wrote a letter to President Obama regarding the memo, and they are waiting for a response. Vitter expressed frustration Sunday.
"The first letters were in June. We had heard rumors about this sort of activity; no answer. We followed up in July; no answer," he told Fox News. "Then this 11-page memo has gotten out, and it's not alleged anymore. It's right there in black and white. So, again, we're reiterating our strong concerns, and still no answer."
Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.., also said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that he was "very disturbed" to see the memo discussing "non-legislative ways to achieve amnesty."
