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Leading proponents of immigration reform are preparing to throw their full political weight behind President Obama as he prepares to use executive authorities to revamp the nation's immigration laws.

Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), two of the most vocal proponents for immigration reform, began circulating a letter of support on Wednesday that lays out the economic, political and legal arguments that they hope Obama's allies will be making on his behalf once he takes action and begins facing Republican criticism for doing so.

A draft of the letter is being circulated among Democrats with plans to formally send a copy to the White House later Wednesday or on Thursday. The Washington Post obtained a copy of the draft from a congressional aide. The offices of Lofgren and Gutierrez didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Obama said last week that he is planning to use his executive powers to overhaul at least part of the nation's immigration system, dismissing calls by Republican congressional leaders that he delay doing so. Obama is said to be considering a suite of options that could grant temporary legal status to as many as 5 million illegal immigrants, according to several people familiar with his plans. He is expected to act once he returns from his current trip to Asia and Australia and before the end of the year.

In the letter, Democrats tell Obama they "were very disappointed" when he postponed taking action before the midterm elections, but are encouraged that he still plans to do so soon.

"We hope that your actions will prevent the separation of undocumented family members of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and DACA beneficiaries and offer protection to others who have long worked in the United States and have established strong ties with our communities. We further hope that they will make our immigration enforcement efforts more sensible and humane," they write.

"Bold and meaningful executive action will provide a boost to our national and local economies," they add later. And they believe that Obama's legal authority to act "is clear and substantial."

They cite the 2012 U.S. Supreme Court case, Arizona v. United States, where Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the Obama administration retains "broad discretion" to decide "whether it makes sense to pursue removal [of illegal immigrants] at all."

They add that "every past President, starting from President Dwight D. Eisenhower more than half a century ago, has used such authority when dealing with similar issues regarding the national interest."

As for the political fallout, Democrats believe Obama is correct to blame Republicans for congressional delay: "For the past two years it was not Senate Democrats that blocked much-needed legislation, it was House Republicans. That obstacle to sensible immigration reform still remains. Let us also not forget that congressional Republicans previously blocked reform in 2006 and 2007."

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Democrats: Legal basis for Obama to act on immigration clear and substantial

Church of Scientology STATS Thursday 2pm to Thursday 2pm
Scientology Inc acts like a business, talks like a business and quacks like a business while taking advantage of the vast protections of the first amendment to protect its conduct. These include...

By: SurvivingScientology

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Church of Scientology STATS Thursday 2pm to Thursday 2pm - Video

(Oxnard PD) First Amendment Audit

By: OxnardCopBlock805

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(Oxnard PD) First Amendment Audit - Video

Slain New Hampshire journalist James Foley was honored Wednesday night in Manchester with the Nackey Loeb School of Communications First Amendment Award.

Click here to view News 9s report.

Foley was reporting in Syria in 2012 when he was captured. The terror group ISIS executed Foley in August.

Foleys parents accepted the award on his behalf.

Obviously, were very honored, said Diana Foley, his mother. Jim was very passionate about freedom of the press. Thats why he risked his life to be in Syria. He wanted the world to know about the suffering in Syria.

Nicolas Henin, a French freelance journalist and a fellow cellmate for seven months with James Foley, is visiting the Foleys family and was at the awards ceremony. He said Foley was a humble man who did not seek out the kind of honors he received.

We were about two dozen men held together in a teeny, teeny room, and of course that does not happen without conflict. But James was the one in our group who managed to stay friends with every single one of us, Henin said.

Joe McQuaid, president of the Loeb School, said Foleys work and sacrifice made the choice of naming him the First Amendment winner easy.

This young man had been a teacher and he wanted to do more than teach. He wanted to tell the stories of oppressed people, McQuaid said.

James Foleys parents have established the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation to help support families of hostages. His father said James Foley set an example of caring for his fellow man, and they will strive every day to follow his example.

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James Foley honored with First Amendment Award

MANCHESTER Three months after his death, New Hampshire-based journalist James Foleys efforts to help people in the most troubled areas of the world continued with a posthumous honor Wednesday night.

Foley was the recipient of the 12th annual Nackey S. Loeb First Amendment Award, given annually to New Hampshire organizations or residents who protect or exemplify the liberties listed in the First Amendment to the Constitution free speech and freedom of the press.

What James was doing at the risk and ultimate loss of his life was telling stories of innocent people caught up in terrible, terrible circumstances, said Donald Trump, the featured speaker during the banquet. He did this because he felt those stories needed to be told. And he was right.

Trump accepted the invitation to speak before Foley was selected as the honoree. Once he learned who was the recipient, Trump well-known for not easily being humbled said he learned more about the 40-year-old journalist beheaded by Islamic militants in Syria last August.

He was far more brave than Ill ever be, said Trump, who was interrupted by applause during his remarks about Foley.

Trump also presented a $25,000 check made out to the James W. Foley Legacy Fund to Foleys parents, Dr. John and Diane Foley of Rochester. The Foleys accepted the award on behalf of their son, who they said believed in his work and the protections established for him and all journalists in the First Amendment.

Jim was obviously passionate about freedom of the press. He laid down his life to get the word out about the suffering of people in Syria, Diane Foley said.

John Foley recalled how his son organized a group of colleagues to come up with $10,000 for an ambulance for a village they were covering. Foley said his son was also in Libya, where he was kidnapped and held for weeks. James Foley felt obliged to return to the region, despite the danger.

He was a humanitarian I think as much as a journalist, but I think he was able to meld all of his strengths and aspirations into a journalism career, John Foley said. Most of the time his goal was to humanize the subject of his writing.

The Foleys also brought a guest Nicolas Henin, a freelance journalist from France who was held with Foley during part of his time in captivity. Henin received a standing ovation when he was introduced during the banquet. He said the award was a fitting way to honor his former fellow captive and carry on his memory.

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Trump leads tribute for slain journalist James Foley