One day after President Barack Obama announced that he is delaying executive action on immigration , top lawmakers urged the President to ditch his plans for an executive action altogether and work with Congress . Sen. Dianne Feinstein indicated she 'd prefer the President not act unilaterally at all . `` The way this should be done is legislatively , '' the California Democrat said on CNN 's `` State of the Union . '' She said anything done through presidential action would be challenged in the courts . Rep. Mike Rogers , R-Michigan , agreed , adding the President is being `` prudent '' by not acting . `` I think that was wise . He needs to work with Congress on this , '' he said , also on `` State of the Union . '' On Saturday , the President announced he is delaying any action on immigration that could have protected many undocumented immigrant workers and families from deportation until after the midterm elections in November . His move prompted critics and analysts to determine his decision was political as Democrats are struggling to maintain control of the Senate . Even Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez , D-Illinois , who is a strong proponent of immigration reform , said `` it 's clear that playing it safe is what is going on at the White House and among Democratic circles . '' He said Democrats have looked at polling in red , Southern states with small Latino populations , including Georgia , North Carolina , Arkansas and Louisiana , where Democratic Senate candidates are at risk of losing in November . `` Playing it safe means walking away from our values and our principles , '' he added on ABC 's `` This Week . '' Obama said that he decided to postpone taking action because `` the politics did shift midsummer '' because of the record number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border . The President also said that he needs to spend time explaining to the American public his reasons for acting on immigration . `` I want to spend some time , even as we 're getting all our ducks in a row for the executive action , I also want to make sure that the public understands why we 're doing this , why it 's the right thing for the American people , why it 's the right thing for the American economy , '' he said in an interview aired Sunday on NBC 's `` Meet the Press . '' But the President has also received criticism for his delay . Immigration reform advocates have said they are `` bitterly disappointed . '' Sen. Bob Menendez , D-New Jersey , expressed a similar sentiment , saying on `` Fox News Sunday '' that he 's `` deeply disappointed '' that the President has n't yet acted . While Rep. Tony Cardenas , D-California said Latinos and immigrant communities are `` frustrated '' with the President for taking so long to act , he said the majority of frustration is placed at the feet of Congress . `` The first blame is with Congress not doing its job , and now the President is forced to have to take a measure like executive actions , '' he said on CNN . The Senate passed a comprehensive piece of immigration legislation in 2013 but it has been stalled in the House . That inaction led the President to announce at the beginning of the summer that he would act in spite of congressional inaction . Rogers said he hopes the President never moves forward on such an executive action , calling it `` risky '' for his relationship with Republicans . `` I think it 's very risky for the President . He already has a credibility crisis . If he takes this step , it would make for a very long two years , '' Rogers said .
Two top lawmakers say Obama should drop plan for executive action to get immigration reform . Issue should be dealt with legislatively , says Sen. Mike Rogers . `` He needs to work with Obama on this , '' says Rep. Dianne Feinstein . Congress said Saturday he would delay any action on immigration until after midterm elections .