Obama Offers Immigration Reform Promises and Little Else
President Obama told Hispanic spiritual and community leaders this morning that he is "committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform as president of the United States."
Obama was the keynote speaker at the 2009 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., where he addressed the Hispanic community and shared his thoughts and plans on how to address the issues that affect Latinos in the United States. Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, also attended the Prayer Breakfast. President Obama's full remarks are available at WhiteHouse.gov.
Obama held fast to his immigration agenda, emphasizing his desire for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line. "That's what I'm committed to passing as president of the United States." The President also talked about strengthening border security and cracking down on the exploitation of undocumented workers.
What the President did not provide is a timeline for immigration reform. He reiterated his commitment to passing immigration reform, but the urgency of needing to tackle the issue "now" was completely missing from his speech today. Unfortunately, this omission fits into his new pattern of declaring his commitment to immigration reform but providing nothing to back it up. Immigration reform discussions with Congressional leaders that were supposed to happen in May, scheduled in June then postponed twice, are now set for "later this month," according to The Hill. I've read that the meeting will take place on June 25th.
President Obama needs to "walk the talk" and act on his commitment to immigration reform. Vague timelines and postponements do not fit in with a government that promotes integrity and openness. Don't leave reformers and immigration advocates hanging.
Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Comments
Those who come here illegally, steal our IDs and ignore our laws have already demonstrated they lack the honesty and decency to ever become American citizens.
a.) Enforce the existing immigration laws.
b.) Secure the border.
c.) Don’t hire illegal aliens.
d.) No anchor babies.
e.) Deportation through attrition.
SSA estimates that 8.5 million illegal aliens are using fraudulent SSNs. That’s a felony that they should be punished for, not rewarded with amnesty.
I agree with everyone that says people who come to USA without Visa or overstay their visa break immigration laws of our country. They must be punished for that. But don’t u think coming to USA walking those miles in killer & lonely desert itself is punishment. working in farms, construction, restaurants and factories like slaves is punishment, living without any rights or driving license is punishment…. I guess we have punished them a lot. They do deserve better life after scarifying so much, its not that they are here for fun, they come here for better life for themselves and their kids just like our Great grandparents did for us.
Even a hardcore criminals like bank robbers, rapist and con-artist are given Second chance after serving 3-4 years in prison. I guess a life of illegal is worse then being in prison. While working, undocumented workers endure unfair treatment and wages because they fear being fired or reported to immigration or cops.
Just like every other criminal they too deserve a second chance, or we just want to keep them as slaves forever
We all love cheap goods!
We posses plenty of land (we need cheap farm workers), we need cheap labor done (particularly mowing lawn, roofing, masonry, drywall, and stucco), we love good and cheap food (we employ illegals at meat processing plants and restaurants) we are made of immigrants, yet we let our racist nature get the worst of us. Nevertheless illegal immigrants at great fear work the jobs we refuse to work (I bet non of us wanna work any of the above jobs for $5 an hour) and we turn around look down at them and deny fair pay, drivers license and peace of mind. When are we going to realize that history repeats its self (1st were our great grandparents looking out for us and now are they), Society is being unfair everybody but the ones that touched their hearts anguishly follow the crowd. Later after the many struggle of these people, the many separated families, we are going to realize that we were wrong…. And we are going to want to bury our heads in the ground like ostriches to hide our shame. The Congress must pass a comprehensive immigration reform this year. It is disgusting that in the XXI century America millions have absolutely no rights. They speak English, work hard, and most of them pay taxes. They are not all criminals, yes hardcore criminals must be removed from USA. Stop the hatred! I am ashamed to call myslef an American in such circumstances.
Call your Senators, action is needed NOW. We must bring millions out of shadow and let them enjoy American life as we do.
God bless President Obama and all others who will support and pray God for immigration reform… Yes We Can
Opportunities USA offers drives immigrants towards her… They are the same opportunities that drove your great grandparents to this great land years ago and today they are driving others.
Its not illegals who are ruining the country,
Most of illegals are hardworking. its not that they are here for fun, they come here for better life for themselves and their kids just like our Great grandparents did for us.
People who don’t wanna work and want everything for free, Live on Food Stamps and Government freebies are the one problem for USA.
Here are few examples :
“US man dressed as dead mother to collect benefits”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090618/od_afp/usfraudoffbeat_20090618123556
“Minuteman linked to another murder”
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicanisima/2009/06/minuteman-linked-to-another-murder.html
America Needs Businesses and Farms. Farmers and businesses need cheap workers so that they can product affordable products for consumers and consumers love cheap stuff.
Tell me where this will end?
Paul P, you are in almost complete agreement with the immigration reform plan that is being promoted here.
I met with several representatives this week and attended this speech. A person who is caught stealing social security numbers would NOT be eligible for residency or citizenship as it breaks one of the MAIN points of the plan: the requirement that they pass an extensive criminal background check.
This plan asks that the illegals who are interested in applying for residency learn English. They must pay back taxes. THEN they move to the BACK of the line, behind those who did things by the book. There are also other requirements, including a STRONGER border. The concept is balanced and logical. Please research it further.
The “immigrants take jobs” argument is archaic and simply not true. It is easy to find rare exceptions to hold up as a poster story because that is the nature of human life. People are killed by toilet lids, it does not mean that it is a common or likely occurrence.
Ask the Apple Grower’s Association about how they offered 50 dollars a basket to American citizens and could not find anyone who was willing to do the job. Anyone who takes a view contrary to the above is either uninformed or simply hateful. Immigration reform is the solution. We need to try something new. Both sides can agree that what we are doing is NOT WORKING. I say the above as an independent and someone who is not a liberal fan of rampant immigration. I encourage you all to explore the issue and learn the facts from scientific and non-political sources.
THE MAJORITY OF–THE PEOPLE–MUST SPEAK UP OR WE SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.
The American public are kept in the dark, while secret discussions happen behind closed doors. They have stealthily drafted a path to citizenship. But then whose going to pay for all the processing? The criminal investigations in foreign countries, that do not store police records. All the examinations for contagious diseases, tuberculosis and hidden major ailment, who taxpayers will foot the bill once legalized? How about millions around the world, waiting for the harbinger of BLANKET AMNESTY to ring out–causing a mass, unstoppable rush for the defenseless border. Bring in with it more impoverished, no skills, no education, no conscious or no integrity.
Just another burden on our already overwhelmed society. Amongst this unrestrained force will come the junkies, drug dealers, skin traders, immigrant families and terrorists. With national security already compromised, we cannot even visualize the terrible danger to our population. We have already seen the escalation of–HATE CRIMES–which truthfully must be placed at our Senators, congressman and elected officers doors–as they have absolutely ignored the peoples cry for immigration enforcement. Frustration is growing on a grand scale and a few in either quarter are willing to turn to violence. The American people will not be treated as imbeciles, “telling us we are all god’s children? The en-masse population of this country, live by the Rule of Law and respect it.
Unlike some of those individuals who we voted for? There is no doubt in my mind, they will be ready to shove a BLANKET AMNESTY–down our throats before this congress retires, knowing they will be highly vulnerable in the coming year, or whenever the incumbent comes up for reelection? The only way that illegal immigration occupational army will be–ERADICATED–for good, is the paramount overwhelming pressure of public awareness, bearing down on their Senators and Congressman? It will also forcibly remove the nefarious activities of criminals. THE COST TO SUPPORT THESE ILLEGAL PEOPLE IS ASTRONOMICAL! Say–YES–to e-verify! It will empty the workplace of illegal labor stealing jobs. Errors can be resolved at the Social Security office, where illegal workers wouldn’t dare to go.
Tell our corrupted legislators to seal THE BORDER. TELL THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT THE BORDER FENCE AND HALT WEAKENING IMMIGRATION LAWS AND STOP PANDERING TO THE OPEN BORDERS, FREE TRADERS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. Say–NO–to any AMNESTY. Outside of this–NOTHING WILL HAPPEN–EXCEPT ANOTHER PRE-ARRANGED AMNESTY, THAT TAXPAYERS WILL GET THE BILL IN INFINITY. READ ABOUT THE IRREVERSIBLE OVERPOPULATION NIGHTMARE. Digest more of the facts and unbiased truth at NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIALWATCH,CAPSWEB, ALIPAC, AMERICANPATROL. Find out undisclosed news and the numbers of illegal aliens in the penal system at THEDARKSIDEOFILLEGALIMMIGRATION & ILLEGALIMMIGRATIONDAILY.
As someone who wishes to immigrate to the US, I find the above comment rather…ignorant. The fact is, the US is seen – both from within its own borders and without – to be a place of freedom and opportunity. Yes, there are many more places in the world that offer such things – perhaps more so at this stage – yet shouldn’t people -from- the US be pleased that their nation is seen in such a good light? Or would you, Brittancus, wish to be seen as an unwelcoming, racially ignorant and intolerant country? It’s views such as the ones you’ve expressed that will lead to such things.
You complain that drug dealers, terrorists and immigrant families will flock into the US – saying they’ll drain the economy. You obviously failed to consider the fact that right now so much of the US economy depends on the presence of people willing to work for less in order to stay: is the American way one of exploitation, and defensibly so in your eyes? Or is that not something you like to think about? Amongst the people who might arrive in your country would be healthcare workers, such as myself, a nurse – something the US is close to lacking over 2,000,000 of. That’s a deficit of 2,000,000 nurses alone. What about doctors? Paramedics? Healthcare assistants? What about teachers? What about other skilled workers? Or are all immigrants (given you didn’t say anything about skilled, educated ones) lacking intelligence, ability and good work ethics? And so what about immigrant families? Are they MORE of a drain on the US than, say, your family? I don’t think so. In fact, after two generations, that immigrant family will no longer BE an immigrant family. How long has your own family been in the US? At what point was it an immigrant family? I think you’ll find, Brittancus, that when it comes down to it, by allowing immigrants to register legally, rather than barring them entrance, will make sure that they will be paying tax; they aren’t going to be freeloaders anymore than, say, yourself – they’ll be working and paying taxes to support themselves, the economy and the governmental infrastructure. Asking who’s going to pay for the services offered to them as citizens as if it’s coming out of your pocket and not theirs…that’s ridiculous and incredibly self-centred. You’re not the only one paying for such things – they’ll be paying for you when you access such services, too. If it were me in your position, I’d be thinking about how much better it is to have a multi-cultural society with new people in it everyday in which my needs are met and in which I get to live a life far beyond that of some people in terms of quality in some parts of the world. And financially speaking, I’d far prefer a larger pool to draw from in terms of resources than a smaller, more limited one – which is the result of your short-sighted proposals.
Your views are actually really quite nationalist – which, unfortunately for you, is the spectrum on which Nazism lay, albeit as an extreme. Protection of the ones within to the point of intolerance, prejudice and punishment of those from without…do you really want to go down that road?
Mr. Randell, that was purely compelling. You have a beautiful gift of compassionate wisdom, which is so rare nowadays.