Obama Says He's Committed To Immigration Reform

President Barack Obama told Latino lawmakers on Wednesday night that he has not forgotten about his pledge to revamp the nation’s immigration system.

Speaking at an annual dinner held by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the president said, “I will not walk away from this fight. My commitment to getting this done as soon as we can is real.”

It appeared earlier this summer that immigration had moved ahead in line on the Democrats’ agenda. But talks between the White House and Congress broke down when Republican Lindsey Graham (S.C.), a staunch supporter of the Bush immigration bill that failed in 2007, said he would withdraw his support of climate legislation if the Senate was forced to take up immigration reform.

Graham isn’t the only high-profile Republican to have backed away from immigration. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), who co-wrote the original bill, has cooled on  supporting efforts this year, likely due to a tough primary challenge brought on by conservative former House member J.D. Hayworth. In addition, local efforts in Arizona and elsewhere to tighten enforcement of immigration laws have quieted lawmakers facing reelection. Most Democrats and moderate Republicans would prefer legislation to include provisions that would legalize those here illegally, a desire that deeply contrasts with views of anti-immigration advocates.

The president acknowledged the reality that this year’s political climate may not be conducive to passing his version of immigration reform.

“Without the kind of bipartisan effort we had just a few short years ago, we can’t get these reforms across the finish line.”

Arizonans Speak Out Against SB 1070, Push For Comprehensive Reform

By Sarah Mamula - Talk Radio News Service

The rise of immigration enforcement, such as Arizona’s SB 1070, has led to an increase in deportations and subsequent family separations among the immigrant community, according to the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. At a press conference Thursday outside the Capitol, immigrant women and children shared their experiences and urged Congress to take action.

Ai-Jen Poo, director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, said federal policies “are putting women and children in grave danger.” 

“There is a human rights crisis facing our families,” said Poo. “The Arizona Law SB 1070 is just a glimpse of what is to come if we do not turn the tide on immigration enforcement.” 

11-year-old Matthew Perea and 12-year-old Heidi Ruby Portugal were among the many children who spoke about their experiences in Arizona. Perea said children in the state live in fear of the police and the possibility of being separated from their parents due to deportation. Portugal told the story of her mother’s arrest while at work in Arizona.  At age 10, Portugal had to take care of 3 younger siblings, including her 3-month-old brother, while her mother was detained.  

“Luckily my mom is now here with us and she didn’t get deported,” said Portugal. the 12-year-old wants others to fight against the implementation of SB 1070 because “it’s just hateful and separates lots of families.”

With only two weeks until the Arizona law is implemented, The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has joined with more than 25 other organizations across the country to call for immediate immigration reform.

“Arizona’s new law makes a bad situation far worse and it’s the children, often American-born, who lose their mothers and fathers,”said Karen Nussbaum, assistant to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumpka. “We cannot stand by and watch workers get exploited and families ripped apart.”

Obama Pushes For Comprehensive Immigration Reform

President Barack Obama brought immigration policy to the front burner Thursday in an address that called for comprehensive reform.

“After years of patchwork fixes [and] ill-conceived revisions, the legal immigration system is as broken as the borders,” Obama said before an audience made up of religious, labor, and business leaders at American University in Washington, D.C.

In his nearly 40 minute long remarks, the President outlined the provisions Congress should incorporate into reform legislation, including additional security along U.S. borders and a path to citizenship for those already in the country illegally.

“They must be required to admit they broke the law, register, pay their taxes, pay a fine and learn English,” Obama said. “They must get right with the law before they get in line and earn their citizenship.”

Obama also emphasized that reform would need to avoid the solutions put forward by those on the far ends of the political spectrum, noting that neither amnesty nor mass deportation were realistic or desirable approaches.

The issue of immigration reform gained national prominence in April when Arizona passed a controversial bill that allowed law enforcement officials to ask individuals suspected of being in the country illegally for proof of citizenship.

Obama said Thursday that the law, which the White House has been a fierce critic of since its passage, can be attributed to the federal government’s failure to address border security.

“Into this breach, states like Arizona have decided to take matters into their own hands,” Obama stated. “Given the levels of frustration across the country, this is understandable, but it is also ill-conceived.”

In 2005 and 2006, a push by Congress to reform the immigration system made considerable headway, but ultimately flopped when the legislation passed in both chambers could not be reconciled.

Israel Will Conduct "Credible Investigation;" BP To Pay Gov't $69 Mil, Says Gibbs

By Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News Service

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs delivered remarks Thursday afternoon on Israeli-Palestinian relations, the Deepwater Horizon Disaster, and immigration reform.

Gibbs was questioned on the heated and controversial conflict between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian supporters on the Gaza flotilla Monday. He addressed the death of the pro-Palestinian American citizen who was killed in the attack.

"We have called for... a full and credible investigation so that we have all the facts about what happened; that is tremendously important."

However, Gibbs later conceded that, "It's an Israeli investigation ... that could include international participation," leaving some questioning the accountability of the report.

When asked about the government's response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf, Gibbs assured reporters that the Federal government will, "hold BP responsible throughout this process."

"The Federal government will, at some point today, send...a bill for 69 million dollars of expenses incurred up to this point to BP," Gibbs said.

Gibbs expressed the President's position that states' individual handling of immigration law has been the result of a lack of action on the part of the Federal government to reform its own laws, but stated that he doesn't think the nation can, "deal with comprehensive immigration reform and the circumstances around the border without dealing with Arizona."

The Press Secretary touted Senator John McCain (R-AZ) as being "instrumental" in bringing immigration reform into the spotlight and stated that he doubts the U.S. can develop comprehensive immigration reform legislation without McCain "doing what he did" in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Boehner Blasts Push For Immigration Reform As 'A Cynical Ploy'

By Monique Cala Talk Radio News Service/ University Of New Mexico

House Minority Leader John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) accused Democrats of engaging in a 'cynical ploy' to shore up support in an election year through their calls for comprehensive immigration reform.

“It is nothing but a cynical ploy to try and engage some segment of voters to show up in this November’s elections," Boehner said during a press conference Thursday.

According to the Ohio Republican, the timeline sought by Democrats to pass reform by the end of the year will be impossible to meet.

“There is not a chance that immigration is going to move through Congress. I have been around here for a little while, and know that in the middle of an election year ... you can not do a serious piece of legislation of this size [and] difficulty in this environment."

Noted Boehner, "Even the President admitted it was impossible."

The Minority Leader also commented on Arizona's controversial new immigration law, which has put immigration reform on the front burner.

"[The] people of Arizona have a right to pass their laws under the 10th amendment," said Boehner.