Napolitano Working on Legislation

Visiting in Ireland, DHS Secretary Napolitano commented on President Obama’s assignment to her on comprehensive immigration reform. She was quoted an article by Deaglan de Breadun in the Irish Times:

“The president has asked me to lead the team working with the Congress to examine immigration reform in the United States. We had a meeting at the White House just last Thursday with about 30 members of the Congress and the president said publicly he would like to see if there could be a Bill ready by the end of the year or the beginning of 2010. It’s a very aggressive schedule, so, I take that as my direction and will work hard to achieve that.”

A previous joint effort by Senators Edward Kennedy and John McCain to bring about immigration reform was unsuccessful and Ms Napolitano says: “Some of the ideas in that legislation need to be brought forth again; others as well. But in the meantime, as I keep reminding people, we are enforcing the immigration laws. My department is a law-enforcement department, that’s our job and we will continue to do it, even as discussions are under way about how to amend the laws.”

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