Washington, March 23 (RHC)-- A group of 14 U.S. Latin American activists traveled on Saturday to the Vatican to request the intercession of Pope Francis to halt deportations from the United States, which have increased during the administration of President Barack Obama.

Juan José Gutiérrez, leader of the U.S. Latino Movement in Los Angeles, confirmed to journalists that his colleagues will express their concerns to the Pontiff, in a hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.  The activist said that they would petition the Pope to ask Obama to avoid the separation of more undocumented families through expulsions.

The U.S. president will travel to the Vatican on Thursday, March 27th, as part of his visit to Europe.

The trip of Latino activists is part of a national campaign that has been underway the last few months against deportations and in favor of integral migratory reform. This has stalled in Congress and would have helped to normalize the status of at least 11 million undocumented people.

During Obama's administration, at least two million people have been repatriated to their countries of origin.

The U.S. president mentioned the immigration issue among the priorities of his second term (2013-2017) and urged Congress to pass a comprehensive legislation soon, but the Republican majority in the House of Representatives is reluctant to give the green light to the measure although the Senate endorsed it in June.