Despite President Barack Obama's executive actions, law enforcement and religious-based leaders are pressing Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

The National Immigration Forum hosted a press call discussing on whether Obama was right to issue his executive actions while also focusing on impacts on local communities. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Chief James R. Lopez applauded the immigration executive action as an important first step to opening a dialogue between community groups.

"We believe that it has lent an increased dialogue in our community particularly the Latino community and Los Angeles County," said Lopez, noting a "significant" number of the population includes undocumented immigrants.

Lopez noted the dialogue and the executive actions are important, as it may help undocumented immigrants help report or assist in solving crimes without having fears of legal immigration troubles such as deportation.

Dayton, Ohio, Police Chief Richard Biehl said the current immigration system "fragments" families and undermines trust and cooperation between law enforcement and immigrant communities.

"In particularly, the clarity of priorities and immigration enforcement will promote public safety by removing persons [with] significant threats to community safety while avoiding generating fear in communities about otherwise law abiding community members being subjected to deportation when they do not represent a threat to our communities," Biehl said.

Sojourners President Jim Wallis said reaction is "anger" among those within Washington, D.C., regarding the immigration executive actions. Wallis said it's "worse than ironic" to have opponents of the immigration executive action as those individuals also had the opportunity to help provide immigration reform.

National Latino Evangelical Coalition President Rev. Gabriel Salguero said he can not express how many families viewed the executive actions as "welcomed relief" but recognized many others know much more can be accomplished for the undocumented immigrants.

"The truth is, this executive action, while not solving the real challenges of a broken immigration system, is providing relief," said Salguero, for millions of undocumented immigrants who have sought to integrate and contribute for the common good and betterment of society.

Salguero called for bipartisan efforts for comprehensive immigration reform legislation but commended the initial step taken by the executive actions introduced on Nov. 20.

Zach Szmara, pastor of the Bridge Community Church in Logansport, Indiana, said the executive actions promoted the dignity of people and unity of families. He said in a statement, "Too often in our communities, families are broken apart by our current immigration laws. This is a very positive first step, not only for me as an evangelical pastor, but also for our businesses and schools in my community."

"Local leaders aren't caught up in the politics of executive action. They are seeing its benefits when they see the faces of people in their churches, their businesses, the communities they protect," said National Immigration Forum Executive Director Ali Noorani. "And they are looking to Congress for a lasting breakthrough on immigration reform that will move all of us forward."

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