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Loretta Lynch shot down left-leaning hopes for a blanket clemency rule for thousands of illegal immigrants en masse. The head of the Department of Justice, appointed by Barack Obama himself, told Politico that a last-minute mass pardon before the president left the Oval Office was impossible. Democrats had repeatedly called on the Obama administration to grant a pardon to thousands of young undocumented immigrants - known as DREAMers - before Donald Trump takes office.

GETTY Attorney General Loretta Lynch shot down left-leaning hopes

Since the election in November, House Democrats have urged Mr Obama to pardon children of illegal immigrants registered for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (or DACA). Immigration policy is expected to change once President-elect Trump begins his reign. During his campaign, he vowed to build a wall at the Mexican border and deport all illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. Mr Obama himself has long argued that children of illegal immigrants should be spared from deportation. However, Mrs Lynch quickly rejected any chance of a mass pardon before Mr Trump gains power.

POLITICO House Democrats have repeatedly called on the President to pardon DREAMers

She said: "The issue of pardoning someone is an individual decision that is made on a case-by-case basis. "So, there is no framework or regulatory framework that allows for a pardon for a group en masse." Mr Obama has granted a record number of clemency petitions during his time in office.

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Barack Obama has granted a record number of clemency petitions during his time in office

GETTY Attorney General shut down any hope for a mass pardon of illegal immigrants

There is no framework or regulatory framework that allows for a pardon for a group en masse Attorney General Loretta Lynch