Disappointed by Congress’s failure to pass the DREAM Act during lame duck, President Obama made remarks today regarding the need to reform immigration in the next Congress. While the President acknowledged that border security is part of that conversation, he also acknowledged that “changing the politics” of how Congress and his administration engage the public on immigration is equally important—as is “doing right” by the many DREAM students who deserve a fair shot at the American dream.
The President remarked:
So my hope and expectation is that, first of all, everybody understands I am determined and this administration is determined to get immigration reform done. It is the right thing to do … we need to reform this immigration system so we are a nation of laws and we are a nation of immigrants. And at minimum, we should be able to get the DREAM Act done.
And so I’m going to go back at it and I’m going to engage in Republicans who, I think, some of them, in their heart of hearts, know it’s the right thing to do, but they think the politics is tough for them.
Well, that may mean that we’ve got to change the politics … one thing I hope people have seen during this lame duck—I am persistent. I am persistent. If I believe in something strongly, I stay on it. And I believe strongly in this.
And I am happy to engage with the Republicans about — if they’ve got ideas about more on border security, I’m happy to have that conversation … But I also think about those kids. And I want to do right by them, and I think the country is going to want to do right by them, as well.
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3 comments
Lorne Marr says:
December 23, 2010 at 5:13 pm (UTC -5 )
It is true that the US is a country built on immigrants and if we are not committed to solve this problem then we risk to follow the poor demographics of some countries in Europe.
Janice says:
December 28, 2010 at 6:05 pm (UTC -5 )
What about UAFA – Uniting American Families Act. This is where American citizens are not entitled to sponsor their partners for immigration. Tax paying, law abiding citizens who are being treated horribly. This is a civil rights issue……how about promoting that!!!
Renee Dawson says:
December 31, 2010 at 8:14 pm (UTC -5 )
What about the Uniting American Families Act? We are Americans who have not the freedom to be with the ones we love in the country we love.