Harry Reid: We Told Obama ‘We’ve Got His Back’ on Immigration

"The president's decision is not a political victory. It's a victory for families. We know well that this decision is not a permanent solution. It is a first step. If we had it other way, President Obama would be singing comprehensive immigration bill in the law instead of an executive action. But we cannot sit idly by waiting for Republicans to act while homes are being broken up all across this nation.

We waited 511 days. All the House would have to do is take up the bill and it would pass. It would pass overwhelmingly. Firstly, every Democrat would vote for it and many Republicans would vote for it. It would pass. Republicans keep saying, 'Give us more time. Give us more time.' 511 days was enough time. We've given them this time, waiting patiently. We told the president, and we're telling him before all these TV cameras, we've got his back."