This week, Representative Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL-4) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives on immigration and the President’s decision to delay an announcement of executive actions on deportations and other immigration matters.

He said, “I have made it clear that from a political standpoint in the short-run and the long-run, I think the President should have taken action before Election Day,” and added, “I know the President has heard all of these arguments and I don’t think I will convince him to change his mind — again — and move forward with key improvements to our deportation policies before November 4.”

But then the Congressman went on to make two points, that the legal arguments against the President taking executive action have been settled and that the President will be “going big, going broad, and going quickly after Election Day” as a way of prodding Republicans to action.

Referring to his Republican colleagues who control the agenda in the House, the Congressman said, “I don’t see the President saying he will act if you do not act, as we have been saying for two years. This time, I see the President acting first. Laying out a broad array of executive actions to mitigate the damage that is being done to the country by congressional inaction on immigration reform.”

He concluded, “I think the President will have the courage to act. And then it will be the Congress’ turn.”