How serious is Obama about immigration reform?

President Barack Obama waves as he speaks about immigration reform at Chamizal National Memorial Park in El Paso, Texas, Tuesday, May 10, 2011, during his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border.

/ AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

In a sweeping speech in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday, President Obama rallied voters to unite in support of comprehensive immigration reform - a longstanding campaign promise on which he has yet to deliver. But despite the president's lofty rhetoric, a number of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle wonder how serious Mr. Obama is about affecting tangible action on the matter.

Mr. Obama touted major increases in security along the U.S.-Mexico border in the speech, and argued that in light of the improved safety measures, Republicans had no further grounds with which to block immigration reform - a measure he described as an "economic imperative" in America.

"We have gone above and beyond what was requested by the very Republicans who said they supported broader reform as long as we got serious about enforcement," Mr. Obama said. "But even though we've answered these concerns, I gotta say I suspect there are still going to be some who are trying to move the goal posts on us one more time."

"Maybe they'll need a moat," he quipped. "Maybe they'll want alligators in the moat."

Instead of outlining a legislative strategy on issue, however, Mr. Obama urged voters to "add your voices" to the cause, to let Washington know that "there is a movement for reform gathering strength from coast to coast."

"That's how we'll get this done," Mr. Obama said.

Immigration rights activists largely approved of the sentiment behind the gesture, but many argue that more action must be taken - and that the president could, if he wanted to, provide serious relief for some undocumented immigrants without the help of Congress.

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In a statement on Tuesday, the Association of International Educators (NAFSA) called on the president to use his administrative powers to defer action in deporting promising young students.

"Only Congress can pass the DREAM Act, of course, but there is something the President can and should do now to end the humanitarian crisis that congressional inaction has created," the statement read. "We urge President Obama to exercise his executive authority and act now to direct the Department of Homeland Security to implement such a deferred-action policy. This is a matter of humanitarian necessity, and it would represent the kind of national leadership is needed to move the one-sided, enforcement-first debate about immigration that has so far poisoned prospects for what is ultimately needed - comprehensive reform - in a more fruitful direction."

In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) echoed those sentiments.

"I'm happy the president gave the speech today," he said. But he also argued that the president should be using executive powers.

"If the president's move today was to show immigrant voters, Latino voters, that there is no welcome mat out for our community, then he accomplished his feat," Gutierrez said, of Mr. Obama's El Paso speech. "But I think more important... is the following: the president has broad discretionary powers... Why doesn't the president use his discretionary powers so that we can bring some relief, and some fairness and justice in terms of our application of our laws?"

"The president is clearly committed to immigration reform," added Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), in a Tuesday interview with MSNBC. "The problem is that what the administration has done has been all on the enforcement side and has used none of its discretionary powers, administrative powers, to provide some relief to immigrants in this country."

Indeed, the Obama administration has an aggressive record when it comes to deportation: In the 2010 fiscal year, 392,862 undocumented immigrants were deported from the United States. In contrast, during the 2008 fiscal year, during the George W. Bush presidency, 369,221 people were deported.

"We all understand the importance of the legislative process and that we need a bipartisan bill in the long run, but that will take a long time and given the gridlock in Washington, has an uncertain payoff," Gutierrez said Monday. "Immigrant communities need help now, our system is broken now, and the president can do something about it now."

Meanwhile, a number of Republicans have expressed skepticism as to the nature of the president's recent push. And Mr. Obama's decision to deliver the speech in Texas, a politically crucial state in which he hopes to make a "serious play" in the 2012 election, did not escape notice either.  

"I'm afraid this is probably more political theater than reality," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of few Republicans actively pursuing reform.

A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner noted that "Frankly, we've had no indication from the White House that immigration reform is a priority for them."

"The president's off talking about comprehensive reform. We've been down that road before," Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told reporters on Tuesday. "I believe, in turn, we should do things that actually produce some progress and results."

Senate Democrats have vowed to do just that: On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Menendez said they would re-introduce the DREAM Act into the Senate. The measure, which would provide a path to citizenship to young, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and pursue college educations and/or military careers, was not able to overcome a Republican-led GOP filibuster late last year.

Activists have applauded the move, although the measure stands little chance of passage in the House of Representatives.

"It has been reported that a son of Mexican immigrants who was born in the U.S. was among the American heroes in the Navy SEALs squadron that brought Osama Bin Laden to justice," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina, in a statement on Wednesday. "The report reminded us of the dreams of millions of youths in our country who want to serve the country that is their home but cannot advance because they were brought into this country without proper documents."

"The DREAM Act would let these children apply for legal status after meeting a two-year college requirement or serving in the U.S. military," Medina added. "It is an investment in our nation's future and our economic and national security.

"We urge Republicans in Congress to put aside their partisan agenda, recognize the plight of these young Americans and take the moral path for our country and for our economy," urged AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka in a statement. "We strongly support the swift passage of the DREAM Act and call on all elected leaders to protect the interests of our nation's youth and working people."

In remarks on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Reid said he thought there was hope for recruiting Republicans to support the measure.

"I believe there are people of good will on the Republican side of the aisle, especially some in the past who have been advocates of the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform who will join with us," he said. "This is not a contest between people who are Democrats and Republicans."

[animaltoo]

Obama wants amnesty, and he wants them voting by his re-election. He is an arrogant jerk.

[ReTool]

That this is just another Obama ploy to convince Hispanic voters to vote for him again is well understood. However, it is worth noting who is standing behind him again. Eliseo Medina is a self-avowed Socialist with an open agenda of having Hispanics take over the Democratic party and dominate American politics for years to come. His socialist agenda is to re-distribute American wealth, only his target to benefit from the redistribution is primarily the Hispanic Community. Put his name in the SEARCH box on YouTube and see what he, himself, has to say about it. Trumpka is Medina's puppet. Why US labor unions have allowed Medina and his ilk to co-opt their organizations is a mystery. They are just shooting themselves in the foot. Legitimizing cheap, illegal labor does nothing to help traditional union workers, and a whole lot to depress wages and employment. Medina and the SEIU, LaRaza, LULAC and all the other similar agencies, along with the "gimme, gimme" gamers at both ends of the economic spectrum, the elites and those who profit from cheap labor, regardless of illegality, are the backbone of Obama's supporters. And of course, those are the ones whom Obama represents.

[sjc_1]

The GOP has NO coherent policy, they are all over the map spouting platitudes and hot air. Let's see a complete PLAN that will actually work beside build a wall and deport them all.

[ReTool]

The GOP is responding to its Rule-of-Law, NO AMNESTY constituency much the same as Obama is now responding to the pro-illegal faction of his. The mid-term elections proved which constituency has the greater votes, particularly when the issue of illegal immigration is involved. And because of the illegal immigration effort, the GOP is picking up independents and disaffected Dems in great numbers. I had never pulled the straight-ticket Republican lever in my life until Nov. 2010. Between the economy and illegal immigration, it was the only sensible choice. The average American is not going to sit idly by and watch our country be destroyed by illegal aliens. Nero and Obama may fiddle while Rome burns, but we will not! Thus, the GOP does have a policy: Give the average Americans what they want. And what we want is an end to illegal immigration, stronger enforcement than ever previously practiced, and NO AMNESTY. A vigorous but manageable deportation program combined with an increasingly more stringent enforcement program will, over time, achieve those goals.

[USAmerican100]

Obama is just stumping for the foreign invader vote..... Wait, isn't that treason?

[aliba1]

"It has been reported that a son of Mexican immigrants who was born in the U.S. was among the American heroes in the Navy SEALs squadron that brought Osama Bin Laden to justice," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina, in a statement on Wednesday. "The report reminded us of the dreams of millions of youths in our country who want to serve the country that is their home but cannot advance because they were brought into this country without proper documents."
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If you're going to use the argument of a Mexican-American in the Navy Seals as a reason for amnesty, well, how about the use of Ingmar Guandique and sundry other illegal alien criminals as an argument against it? The Dream Act would have handed out 10-year work visas to literally anyone who claimed to be under age 30 and to have entered before age 16. And if it turned out the application was fraudulent, well, you still couldn't be deported based on the info in the app. Then, there's the little matter of the PARENTS who did break the law in bringing the kids here. The parents would be allowed to remain and even to legalize if the kids eventually did get permanent legal status.

[tammytyler]

Forget that lie!
Obama's fake Osama story is falling apart at the seams!
The Mexican immigrants story fits right in this hoax!
Now Obama's buddies can ask for Billions that will go into the pockets
of his buddies!
http://www.lewrockwell.com/roberts/roberts304.html

[RobAla]

OK - he gave the order for the CIA and SEALS to take out Bin Laden. However, other than that his Presidency has been total failure. Even his crown jewel of cramming the disastrous health care law down the throats of a majority of Americans who don't want it was a horrible thing. It resulted in a majority of states suing the federal government over it, and a majority of Americans want it repealed.

Why immigration, and why at this time? Why not when he had Democrat control of the Whitehouse, the Senate, and the House? This is about the 2012 election. He is trying to gin up support from Hispanics before an election, and it is a diversion from people looking at his total failures on unemployment (we are still at 9% unemployment), massive deficit federal spending, and a really bad economy. This is purely political.

[cbsnacilbuper]

The fence is now basically complete. The border is over 2000 miles, only 700 miles of it has a fence.

Really, basically complete?

[USAmerican100]

Actually there are only 350 miles of pedestrian fencing, the rest is a useless "vehicle barrier" which can be stepped over, or driven over with ramps.

[cbsnacilbuper]

The Plan:

1. BUILD A WALL AND STOP THE BLEEDING!

2. If you don't have children and are here illegally, you go back to Mexico.

3. If you have children you then pay taxes for every year your child is old and then you go through the same process of becoming a citizen as everyone else.

4. If you cannot pay the taxes you join the Military and serve your nation. If you don't want to, you go home.

It is not complex, it is simple.

[animaltoo]

IF you don't have children, IF you have children... What a mess to sort out since I have seen very, very few Latinas that aren't pregnant with one on her hip, one by the hand, stringing two or three more.

[cbsnacilbuper]

Face it. Obama needs the hispanic vote to win in 2012. He is willing to turn his back on the African American's (real American citizens) to allow the illegals to come over and take the jobs and money. He is going to have to make a decision, you can't have it both ways. Either enforce the law or sell out for votes.

[sensiblediscussion]

President Obama is calling on legislators to reform the U.S. Immigration laws. There are many views on how to accomplish this. What should really be done to reform immigration? The Republican's answer is to increase border security so Latinos cannot cross the border illegally. Once again they want to ignore the complexities of the issues and appeal to the ignorant. As my teenage son would say, "Way to go Captain Obvious."
http://politicsdisgust.blogspot.com

[cbsnacilbuper]

complexities?

What is the first thing you do when you don't want stray animals coming into your yard?

You put up a fence Captain Obvious.