President Obama Begins Push On Immigration Reform Despite Congressional Standstill
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will kick off a campaign-style push on comprehensive immigration reform Tuesday afternoon with a major speech in El Paso, Texas, but don't expect Congress to pass legislation anytime soon. The president is “trying to lead a constructive and civil debate on the need to fix the broken immigration system,” said a senior administration official during a Monday night conference call. The official said Obama will lay out a blueprint for action during his speech and will continue pressing the issue in the coming months as part of a broader effort to “responsibly move forward in advancing legislation in Congress.”
But the political reality is that Republicans, and some Democrats vulnerable in the 2012 elections, have zero interest in taking on such a contentious issue -- a detail that Obama will likely gloss over in his speech. “He’s going to make the case that legislation is the root of reform,” said the official. “He wants to [pass legislation] as soon as possible, but he’s not going to lay out any timelines.” In recent weeks, the president has tried to jump-start momentum on immigration reform. He has held a string of high-profile meetings with business and faith leaders, law enforcement officials, lawmakers and Hispanic Hollywood celebrities as part of a broader effort to rally the public on the issue. His Tuesday speech will highlight two specific aspects of reform: border security -- and the progress his administration has already made on this front -- and potential economic benefits.
Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl, both of whom will play a pivotal role in passing any immigration legislation, have argued for specific benchmarks on border security before taking on more controversial aspects of reform, namely a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living illegally in the U.S. But a second senior administration official pushed back on the Senators' ten-point border security plan for Arizona when talking with reporters. “We’re already doing a lot of what’s on their list,” said this official. “Some of the other things are … very, very expensive, in terms of what gain you would get. So you have to wonder about that.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/10/o...
But the political reality is that Republicans, and some Democrats vulnerable in the 2012 elections, have zero interest in taking on such a contentious issue -- a detail that Obama will likely gloss over in his speech. “He’s going to make the case that legislation is the root of reform,” said the official. “He wants to [pass legislation] as soon as possible, but he’s not going to lay out any timelines.” In recent weeks, the president has tried to jump-start momentum on immigration reform. He has held a string of high-profile meetings with business and faith leaders, law enforcement officials, lawmakers and Hispanic Hollywood celebrities as part of a broader effort to rally the public on the issue. His Tuesday speech will highlight two specific aspects of reform: border security -- and the progress his administration has already made on this front -- and potential economic benefits.
Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl, both of whom will play a pivotal role in passing any immigration legislation, have argued for specific benchmarks on border security before taking on more controversial aspects of reform, namely a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living illegally in the U.S. But a second senior administration official pushed back on the Senators' ten-point border security plan for Arizona when talking with reporters. “We’re already doing a lot of what’s on their list,” said this official. “Some of the other things are … very, very expensive, in terms of what gain you would get. So you have to wonder about that.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/10/o...
For Immediate Release
President Obama Puts Immigration Reform Back on the Table
May 10, 2011
Washington, D.C. - Today, President Obama offered his most concrete articulation of a new way forward for resolving our broken immigration system. Echoing and expanding upon the concepts of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the American Dream, the President invited the American public to join him in pressing Congress for comprehensive immigration reform.
Benjamin Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Council, issued the following statement:
“The President continues to refine his argument that comprehensive immigration reform is a key component of ensuring our success in the 21st century. While this message cannot be repeated often enough, the blueprint for change released by the White House today marks a new page in the immigration debate. The blueprint offers numerous ideas that can be translated into specific legislation and will challenge both parties to come together to work in the country’s best interests. The blueprint also invites the public to engage Congress directly on this issue, setting the stage for a showdown between the President and the public—who overwhelmingly support immigration reform—and a recalcitrant Congress.
We look forward to engaging in a more robust discussion of the economic impact of immigration, and we take today’s events as a signal that the Administration will continue to lead on this important issue. Immigration reform is on the table, and the time is long overdue for an honest, constructive debate over how to create a 21st century immigration system that is good for American workers and families, and reflects our history as a nation of immigrants.”
To view information on the economics of immigration reform, see:
The Economics of Immigration Reform (IPC Resource Page, 2011)
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For more information, please contact Wendy Sefsaf at wsefsaf@immcouncil.org or 202-507-7524.
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