President Barack Obama has unveiled expansive executive actions on immigration. Obama says immigrants who’ve lived illegally in the U.S. for more than five years can avoid being deported if their children are citizens or lawful permanent residents, and they pass background checks and pay fees. They also can get work permits. Obama says he wants immigration enforcement efforts to focus on “felons, not families.”

The reaction from Iowa’s congressional delegation to President Obama’s immigration order includes one suggestion that congress vote to publicly and formally reprimand Obama for his actions. Democratic Senator Tom Harkin says Obama has taken “common sense steps” and “is doing the right thing.” Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says Obama has taken “the wrong way forward” and is “poisoning the well for future action” om immigration reform.

Democratic Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa City says he has “concerns about the president acting without congressional approval,” but Loebsack says he hopes the president’s executive order now spurs House Republicans to vote on an immigration reform bill. Republican Congressman Steve King of Kiron is a leading critic of “amnesty” for any illegal immigrant.

King says no one in congress wants to throw the country in turmoil and impeach the president, but King suggested during an appearance last night on CNN that congress might vote to censure Obama instead.

(A-P/Radio Iowa)