Obama Reconfirms Commitment to Reform

President Obama and DHS Secretary Napolitano met today with immigrant rights leaders. They re-stated their commitment to reform. Here are statements from two individuals who attended the meeting.

Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, attended today’s White House meeting:

“Today’s meeting represents a positive step in that President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform in this Congress.  Secretary Napolitano also made it clear that she received our message that she has to communicate more effectively in favor of reform.   But as always, the proof will be in the pudding.  What we are looking for going forward is public advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform from Secretary Napolitano, a concrete proposal presented in Congress early this fall, and continued promotion of this urgent issue by the President.”  

Mary Giovagnoli, Director the Immigration Policy Center, attended the White House meeting and issued this statement:

“Today’s White House meeting demonstrated a genuine commitment to engage in a dialogue that will lead to a smart and workable legislative package. Secretary Napolitano strongly supported the need to bring all undocumented immigrants out of the shadows, streamline naturalization procedures, improve immigration processes that allow immigrants to live and work legally in the U.S., and create smart immigration enforcement mechanisms.  Both the President and Secretary Napolitano acknowledged the importance of immigration to our country as well as the need to create a sustainable legal immigration system for the 21st century. We must all remain committed to following through on the dialogue that began today.”

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