At a rally last month in support of President Obama's executive order on immigration, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez met a family from Jackson who have been able to remain in the country because of the White House's actions.

Three daughters in the Morales-Cano household fell under Obama's 2012 order allowing those brought to the U.S. before age 16 who have been in the country for at least five years to remain. Now the parents likely would not have to fear deportation under the president's 2014 order affecting about 4 million of an estimated 11.3 million unauthorized immigrants. Their fourth daughter, Rebecca, 13 was born in the U.S. and is an American citizen.

Menendez told this story against a photo backdrop of the family on the Senate floor today as he blasted House Republican legislation that would renew funding for the Department of Homeland Security under the condition that both executive orders were rescinded.

"If the Republicans are successful, Rebecca would be left alone in the United States, without her parents or sisters — an American citizen left alone perhaps in foster care — because Republicans don't care about prioritizing the deportation of convicted criminals over her mom, dad and sisters," Menendez said. "The story of the Morales-Cano family is a clear example of thousands of deep-rooted families who have waited too long in the shadows for immigration reform."

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