Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.) on Saturday promised to take executive action on immigration if he is elected president.

Speaking to an audience in Reno, Nev., where Hispanics will be a key constituency in the Feb. 23 caucuses, Sanders said he wouldn't be shy about using presidential powers to fix the immigration system.

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If Congress fails to address the problem, "We will use the executive powers of the White House," said Sanders, who supports a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers now in the country.

Immigration has not been a main focus of the Sanders campaign, as the Vermont senator has focused on the economy, Wall Street and the influence of money in politics.

"But it is not just a corrupt campaign finance system," that is hurting the lower class, Sanders said before turning his attention to immigration.

"I don’t know to whom you are sending a message to. These are children who are leaving countries and neighborhoods where their lives are at stake," he said.



"I don’t think we use them to send a message. I think we welcome them into this country and do the best we can to help them get their lives together."