President Obama met with a group of faith leaders from across the country Tuesday to discuss immigration reform.

Obama met with the faith leaders in the Oval Office as Democrats tried to put pressure on House Republicans to bring the comprehensive immigration reform bill to a vote, The Hill reports.

The meeting with six faith leaders occurred as House Democrats announced a new initiative to target 30 Republicans who voiced some support for immigration reform. They hope to win support for a discharge petition that would force a House vote on the Senate's comprehensive immigration reform bill.

"The president believes that there is an opportunity that still exists for House Republicans to follow the lead of the Senate, including Republicans in the Senate, and take up and pass comprehensive immigration reform," said White House press secretary Jay Carney.

"And today's meeting that the president had with faith leaders demonstrates and reinforces the fact that there is a broad, unusually broad, coalition that supports that effort, that supports comprehensive immigration reform and all the benefits that making reform the law would provide to the country, to our security, to our economy, to our businesses," Carney added.

The faith leaders told the president personal stories about how immigration reform policies have positively impacted members of their congregations.

The White House reported that Obama "emphasized that while his Administration can take steps to better enforce and administer immigration laws, nothing can replace the certainty of legislative reform and this permanent solution can only be achieved by Congress."

Some of the meeting participants included: Luis Cortes, president of the Hispanic faith-based organization Esperanza; JoAnne Lyon, general superintendent of Indiana's The Wesleyan Church; Dr. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention; Suzii Paynter, executive coordinator of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship; and Dieter Uchtdorf, second counselor of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Democrats are increasing pressure on Republicans as immigration activists are pressuring the Obama Administration to slow the rate of deportations. Last month, Obama said the Department of Homeland Security will review the Administrations' procedures.

Carney said Tuesday that the review "of practices and the implementation of enforcement guidelines" is ongoing.

Last month, Janet Murguía, the head of the National Council of La Raza, harshly criticized Obama by calling him the "deporter in-chief."

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus also threatened to seek a referendum pushing administrative action if the White House did not try to unilaterally curb deportations.

Yet, at the meeting with faith leaders, Obama said he is still looking to Congress to pass a reform bill, and will not take unilateral action.