Obama pushes immigration reform deadline as Congress signals progress

[TheDemSocialist]

Barack Obama put pressure on Congress on Monday to introduce an immigration reform bill by April, saying the "time has come to fix once and for all" the broken system.

Speaking on Monday, Obama said: "We've known for years that our immigration system is broken, that we're not doing enough to harness the talent and ingenuity of all those who want to work hard and find a place in America. And after avoiding the problem for years, the time has come to fix it once and all. The time has come for comprehensive, sensible immigration reform."
He added: "We are making progress, but we've got to finish the job, because this issue is not new. Everyone pretty much knows what's broken, everyone knows how to fix it … So I expect a bill to be put forward. I expect the debate to begin next month. I want to sign that bill into law as soon as possible."

He reiterated that he regarded reform as tackling the legal immigration system so that families do not have wait years to join someone already in the country and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers that includes a background check, learning English, paying taxes, including a penalty, and going to the back of the queue behind everyone trying to get to the US legally.

Read more @: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/25/obama-immigration-reform-deadline-congress

I agree Mr. President the sooner the better. Its about time we get some good immigration reform that respects human dignity and this plan seems like a start.

 

[joko104]

I don't agree to "paying a penalty". That is just a way to exclude working people and reward drug dealers.

 

[Fenton]

Yea thats what he should be focusing on.

Letting more illegal immigrants have a path to what little American jobs are left.

 

[Kreton]

I agree with most of what President Obama stated, I doubt his sincerity. As seems to be the case with most things in politics, it sounds good to say it out loud and make people clap for you. To say "I want to sign a bill" means nothing if you dont have a good bill in place.

 

[third]

Yea thats what he should be focusing on.

Letting more illegal immigrants have a path to what little American jobs are left.

One thing you're missing is how broken the system is not just for unskilled labor but for highly skilled labor as well. There is a labor shortage in the US regarding STEM field jobs because there aren't enough US graduates majoring in those fields. A comprehensive fix would take into account this aspect. The whole 'unskilled illegal mexican field worker' aspect isnt the real issue here, its having a system that allows people who want to get to the US legally, and will help improve the US economy, and making it actually work.

 

[Perotista]

Read more @: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/25/obama-immigration-reform-deadline-congress

I agree Mr. President the sooner the better. Its about time we get some good immigration reform that respects human dignity and this plan seems like a start. [/FONT][/COLOR]

I can support that.

 

[MrLiberty]

I cringe everytime I hear that the immigration law is broken. It is not, it is just not enforced the way it should be.

When my grandparents came to this country they had to jump through many hoops in order to get here and then to stay. They needed money, had to verify they had work, and a place to stay along with a sponsor. During the depression my grandfather lost his job and his family, (grandma, mom, and uncle,)were forced back to the old country. It took them another ten years to get back here and stay permanently.

When I hear these politicians talking about amnesty for the illegals, (and that is what they are getting whether you admit it or not,) I think it is a slap in the face to every immigrant who came here before them and did not break any laws.

You do not reward illegal behavior and criminals, but that is exactly what is happening because politicians on both sides of the aisle are to afraid to confront the real problem in our immigration laws, lack of enforcement. :soap