Obama Speaks Again to Hispanics on Immigration
“[T]his debate [on health care reform] underscores the necessity of passing comprehensive immigration reform and resolving the issue of 12 million undocumented people living and working in this country once and for all. That’s what I’ve said from the start. That’s what I say tonight. (Applause.) I’ve asked Secretary Janet Napolitano to lead the conversation with stakeholders both on and off Capitol Hill. And I know that she’s met with many of you. This is a tough issue — we all know that — which is why it is so important that we develop the strategy and the policy that’s going to get us over the finish line. My commitment is real and so is my desire to get this done. In fact, the changes we’ve made administratively are already making a difference. The American people did not send us to Washington to ignore problems just because they’re tough. They sent us here to solve them. And that’s what we can and must do on immigration reform.”
One would hope that we some movement soon on immigration reform. Despite what the President say about alleged improvements, the “enforcement now, enforcement forever” stance of Secretary Janet Napolitano and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is getting very old. Indeed, some knowledgeable observers say that the current administration’s positions are little different than President Bush’s. And the Clinton administration — remember it is Bill who signed the harsh 1996 immigration laws, court-stripping, detention, etc. provisions and all — was not too generous on immigration either. Indeed, it is hard to remember who the last President who was good on immigration.
KJ