Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer suggested that Congress should pass immigration reform now, but it should not take effect until 2017. 

According to MSNBC, Schumer told NBC's "Meet the Press" that the law should not begin to take effect until President Obama's second term is complete.

"Let's enact the law this year, but simply not let it actually start 'til 2017, after President Obama's term is over," Schumer said. "I think the rap against him that he actually won't enforce the law is false-he's deported more people than any other president. But you could actually have the law start in 2017 without doing much violence to it."

The comments by the New York Democrat come on the heels of controversial comments by House Speaker John Boehner, who recently dampened hopes that immigration reform will pass in 2014. Boehner said last week that reform would be unlikely to pass this year, given the GOP's lack of confidence that Obama will enforce the laws. 

(However, contrary to Schumer's comments, President Bush deported a greater number of immigrants; Obama is deporting immigrants at a faster rate.)

Schumer's surprising comments are not likely to be echoed by his Democratic colleagues. Yet, it is an attempt to call Boehner out on his comments and try to box Republicans into a corner on the issue. 

Despite Democrats' desire to pass comprehensive reform, they have said they are willing to take a piecemeal approach to reform and negotiate over a pathway to citizenship, which are both reluctant concessions to Republican demands. 

The House GOP's wavering willingness to pass reform this year has left Congress unsure whether any movement will be made on the issue in 2014. Boehner's recent comments were unwelcome to immigration activists, who were hopeful after the House GOP passed a series of principles for immigration reform. 

Democrats, like Schumer, are trying to make further concessions to Republicans to force their movement on the issue. 

However, conservative groups are telling the GOP to stand firm on their principles. "Schumer's delayed implementation of #amnesty sounds a lot like the delayed implementation of #obamacare," Heritage Action spokesman Dan Holler wrote on Twitter.