Obama: "Now is the time" for immigration reform

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on immigration reform at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, January 29, 2013. Obama Tuesday hailed a "genuine desire" among warring politicians to pursue immigration reform, ahead of a speech laying out his own approach to the politically fiery issue. / JIM WATSON / AFP / Getty Images

Taking a cooperative and optimistic tone, President Obama today urged the public to support bipartisan efforts at immigration reform, appealing both to voters' pocketbooks and their sentimentality.

"I'm here because most Americans agree it's time to fix the system that's been broken for way too long," Mr. Obama said at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Business leaders, faith leaders, labor leaders, law enforcement and leaders from both parties are coming together to say now is the time... Now's the time to do this so we can strengthen our economy and strengthen our country's future."

The president today unveiled a blueprint for comprehensive immigration reform very similar to the framework released a day earlier by a bipartisan group of eight senators. Mr. Obama's plan includes steps for smarter enforcement of immigration laws, a pathway to citizenship for the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants, and improvements in the legal immigration system.

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Obama: "The time is now" for immigration reform

"It looks like there's a genuine desire to get this done soon, and that's very encouraging," Mr. Obama said. "But this time action must follow. We can't allow immigration reform to get bogged down in an endless debate."

The president said his blueprint should provide Congress with "key markers" as they work on their own legislation, noting that his plan includes ideas supported by liberals and conservatives alike.

"It's important for us to recognize the foundation for bipartisan action is already in place," he said. "If Congress is unable to move forward in a timely fashion, I will send up a bill based on my proposal and insist that they vote up on it right away."

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Mr. Obama's plan does include specific elements found in the Senate plan. For instance, both provide a streamlined pathway to citizenship for "dreamers" -- young people who were brought into the country illegally as children who meet a certain set of criteria. Both plans also include certain requirements for other undocumented immigrants who want to earn a green card, such as the requirement to learn English.

In spite of all the similarities, lawmakers could get bogged down in the details, as the president noted.

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Obama: Legalization won't be a quick process, but it will be fair

For instance, a fact sheet on the president's plan says same-sex families should be treated as other families, giving U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents the ability to seek a visa on the basis of a permanent relationship with a same-sex partner. On "CBS This Morning," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., one of the lawmakers working on the bipartisan Senate plan, said that detail raised a "red flag," but that it will be addressed after there's broader consensus on a plan.

After the president's speech, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who's also involved in drafting the Senate plan, said in response that he is concerned with a number of aspects of the president's agenda. Rubio criticized the president's "unwillingness" to make the pathway to citizenship contingent upon border security improvements -- although it's unclear at this point whether the president would agree to that. Rubio also criticized Mr. Obama for ignoring the issue of guest worker programs.

"The President's speech left the impression that he believes reforming immigration quickly is more important than reforming immigration right," Rubio said in a statement.

For most Americans, according to at least one poll, immigration reform is a relatively low priority. But Mr. Obama today made the case for why all Americans should care about it.

"If we're truly committed to strengthening our middle class and providing ladders of opportunity... we have to fix the system," he said.

Keeping undocumented workers in a "shadow economy" hurts the legitimate economy, he said. Meanwhile, the economy would be improved even further by encouraging high-skilled residents to stay in the country legally, Mr. Obama said, noting that companies like Intel and Instagram were started with the help of immigrants.

Noting the difficulty some foreign college students have staying in the U.S. after graduating, Mr. Obama said, "We're giving them all the skills they need to [be successful], but then we're going to turn around and tell them to start that business and create those jobs in China, or India... That's how you give new industries to our competitors."

The president also made an emotional appeal to voters, telling them, "This is not just a debate about policy, it's about people... who want nothing more than a chance to earn their way into the American story."

Noting the country's long history of immigration, the president said the debate shouldn't be framed as "us versus them."

"A lot of folks forget that a lot of 'us' used to be 'them,'" he said. "Unless you're one of the first Americans, a Native American, you came from some place else. Somebody brought you."

[BreNicole]

You have to understand, this doesn't concern those who chose to come to the US but rather the children or "DREAMER's" of those illegal immigrants. When a 5 year old child is brought here by there parents they aren't able to say "Oh no, you can't do this". So those same children, who have now grown up in America, completed all of there schooling and only know America as home should not be penalized for the "crimes" of their parents. Why should they be sent to a country they know nothing about and are completely unfamiliar with? Only because they're native? How many American's ancesters were native to America? It was the lack of severity in Immigration Laws that made America what it is today. Whether you like Mr. Obama or not, you should still respect and support his effort to help those not guilty of anything other than being a child.

[sandy 1027]

Unauthorized border crossings by would-be undocumented workers have greatly diminished under the Obama administration.It is unrealistic to think, as some do, that the 11,000,000 undocumented immigrants that are here can be rounded up and deported.What makes sense is that those who are here be allowed to come out of the shadows without fear of retribution ;and have a pathway to citizenship.While there are some legitimate arguments against an immigration bill, the positives far outweigh the negatives.A comprehensive bill would not only be beneficial for the immigrants, but for the country ( even in the very practical way of additional income tax revenues). Many , but not all,of the arguments against an immigration bill are based in bigotry and double standards.Most of the people who have come here illegally are not criminals, nor"takers".As the president said so eloquently,most of our forefathers came here from some other land-unless they are Native Americans.Many came through Ellis Island; but even before that, Captain John Smith and other uninvited settlers,colonized Jamestown ( Va.) for the same reasons that these immigrants have come here, although uninvited; from El Salvador,Mexico, and other countries.They all came for a better life,but in many cases, out of desperation and the survival of themselves and their loved ones.[If Native Americans had met the first permanent colonizers with hostility,the course of history might have been changed].We are a nation of laws, but there are times that justice should be tempered with mercy; and this is one of them.

[SlimeBagObama]

Comrade Obama, it's now time for you and Natasha to go back to Moscow. The Kremlin needs you Communists.

[marydaniels6011]

I just want to let Obama that he isn't alone in his reform ideal. I have to agree with him on the language thing. I think The federal Gov needs to take a lesson from us here in Missouri. We passed a law making English the only Language. Which means no more calling state offices and hearing "press one for English, then is starts speaking Spanish. I have no problems with Foreigners as long as they are paying their own way, meaning paying taxes for earnings, and as long as they can speak our language. I find it Ironic that people think it is ok to make an entire country to bend to there needs. If i was in your country I would be expected to speak their language. All expect is what i expect from myself and everyone else who lives here. If you brake our laws you go to jail if you dont pay your taxes you go to jail. Well my solution is instead of throwing these people in jail, deport them and never allow them back in. Being here illegal is exactly what it is Illegal, making you a criminal. I understand that they are just coming here to make a better life for their families. However doing it illegal isnt the answer. If it were me I would do everything I had and expected to do legally. Who wants to be looking over their shoulder every time they turn around.

[24lomas]

Hey Obama, what you say might be right for you and your politicians who support amnesty for the poor illegal aliens. But that is not right for us. We do not support amnesty for the poor illegal aliens.

We do not need immigration reform. Over 1 million legal immigrants already enter the United States each year; legal immigration must be cut. The immigration system is not broken because over 1 million legal immigrants come here. The politicians are broken. They must not work for illegal aliens. They must work for US citizens only. We must not grant amnesty to those illegals who are here. Those individuals must be deported now because they do not obey laws. And the politicians who support amnesty for illegals, must not be reelected. Let's replace all the politicians who want amnesty for illegal aliens.

[Tank_Commander]

Another propoganda piece for the White House. Amnesty for lawbreakers again. Yes, my family emigrated here; legally. We would not have to deport a soul if we made it a felony for an employer to willfully and knowingly hires an illegal immigrant. Simple, cost effective. But simple is never what the government and it's minions can do.

[Social_Adjudicator]

Now is the time for serious Federal Government downsizing and reform. The Federal Government and positions within it were never intended to be career jobs. For service within it by Statesmen, there should only be compensation for the period of service to offset their personal tax liabilities within their home state and a meager salary to maintain them as the "Servants" that they are supposed to be.

[mjvwsr]

SPINNER you arse - your crap just keeps getting deaper and deaper.

[jeffwoad]

So many comments spewing hatred towards the 'illegals'. Thank God that democracy silenced these voices of hate and intolerance. Romney got his ass kicked largely due to his hard line stance on immigration. If the GOP ever wants another president they need to accept the fact that latino voters now hold the key to the White House. The Republican party needs to reach out to those in need and welcome them to America.

[towelheadmcghee]

MOAR Amnesty!

[johnlockesghost]

Immigration Reform?
A criminal breaks into your house. Although you have a security system that, among other protections, is supposed to prevent break-ins, apparently the criminal snuck in without being detected. So, you pick up your phone and call your security company telling them of the problem. You're put on hold, and then, have to go through an inane menu before you are able to tell the security firm of your dilemma. In the meantime, the crook has found one of the many piggy banks that you have used, and continue to use, to place funding for the family. He's rifling one of the piggy banks and you'd really like to do something about it, but your security firm, who has now deigned to answer your plea for help, advises you not to attempt to control the situation on your own. In fact he tells you that he'd really like to take any firearms you may have because some mentally impaired people have committed mass murders using them. So, you watch in horror as the thief continues lining his pockets with your money. Finally, there's a knock on the door, and there stands this big bruiser of a guy in the security firm's uniform. You breathe a sigh of relief and are comforted by his presence. He asks where the thief is, you tell him, although the question itself seems moot because the thief can be heard all over your house. Any way the hulk of a security watchdog tells you to stay where you are and he'll take care of the situation. At this, your level of comfort goes up as you feel assured that the thief will be taken care of. So, you wait. While you are waiting for the thief to be carted off to the hoosegows, you hear a lot of noise, though somewhat muffled, that you think must be a scuffle between the thief and your paid security agent. This noise goes on for some time, in fact, for a very long time, and you decide to take a peek at what's going on also thinking that the thief must, indeed, be a really strong villain to put up such a struggle with the mountain of a guy sent by the security firm. Finally, you think to yourself, I'm getting the protection for which I have been paying all these years. As you turn the corner and the thief and your paid security guy come into view, you gape at the incredible scene before you. Instead of wrestling the crook to the ground and applying handcuffs to remove the thief from you house, the security guard is having a drink with the thief from liquor they removed from your liquor cabinet and they're laughing while they break into some of the other piggy banks. They also laugh when you challenge the security guard to do his duty. As the laughter dies down, the security guard tells you that he noticed that you have what seems to be a spare room, although it's your child's room that is only temporarily vacant as she is away on a college fieldtrip. But your explanation of the seemingly vacant room falls on deaf ears and the security guard tells you that you will have to make room for the thief because he is now taking up residence. His last words to you are: "From each according to their ability, to each according to their need."
Welcome to Communist U.S.A.!

[raflin1]

Please tell us what meds you forgot to take?

[towelheadmcghee]

MOAR Amnesty!