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Obama (again) touts his version of immigration reform

By David Jackson, USA TODAY
Updated

Osama bin Laden's death is not the only item on the presidential plate these days -- President Obama is also touting his immigration bill.

"The president reaffirmed that he will continue to work to forge bipartisan consensus and will intensify efforts to lead a civil debate on this issue in the coming weeks and months," said the White House readout of yesterday's meeting between Obama and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Obama's version of immigration changes include not only tighter security at the nation's borders, but a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who are already here.

Many Republicans said that proposed pathway amounts to amnesty for lawbreakers, and they would oppose it. And the Republicans control the House of Representatives.

In his meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus -- all Democrats -- Obama said the issue must be resolved legislatively, participants said.

"The president also noted his deep disappointment that Congressional action on immigration reform has stalled," said the White House readout.

From the Associated Press:

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., who has been one of Obama's toughest critics, said the president agreed that it makes little sense to deport young people who have grown up in the U.S. after they were brought to the country illegally by parents. Such children are often called DREAMers, in reference to the proposed DREAM Act that would have given many of them a chance to remain legally in the U.S. The bill failed last year, but it is expected to be introduced again this session.

"How is the president going to proceed? You guys are going to have to ask him," Gutierrez told reporters on the White House grounds. He said last month that he was uncertain whether he could support the Obama in 2012 if the president didn't step up immigration changes.

Rep. Charlie Gonzalez of Texas said the caucus would like to see consistent policies on how young illegal immigrants are treated. In some but not all cases, students' deportations are delayed, he said.

And the full White House readout:

In a meeting in the State Dining Room today, the president and senior administration officials met with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss the importance of fixing the broken immigration system so that it meets our nation's 21st century economic and security needs.

The president thanked the CHC members for joining him in a strong effort to pass the DREAM Act during the lame-duck session last year, and reiterated his disappointment that it failed to pass in the Senate after passing with bipartisan votes in the House. The president also noted his deep disappointment that Congressional action on immigration reform has stalled.

The president was asked by the CHC members to consider a broad range of administrative options. The president articulated that his goal is to reform the law, and that he cannot do this unilaterally, noting that the only way to fix what's broken about our immigration system is through legislative action in Congress. However, the president agreed to carefully review the CHC members' request.

The president detailed how the administration continues to improve our legal immigration system, secure our borders, and enhance our immigration enforcement. He noted that his administration will continue to work toward improving our enforcement practices so that we are not using our limited resources on those potentially eligible for an adjustment of status, but rather tightening our efforts so that the Department of Homeland Security more effectively and sensibly focuses on criminals, a smart approach from a law enforcement perspective.

The president updated the CHC members on the meetings he has held in recent weeks with stakeholders from a broad range of sectors and from both parties on the need to elevate the debate on immigration and get past the false debates and rhetoric that have dominated the issue. The president reaffirmed that he will continue to work to forge bipartisan consensus and will intensify efforts to lead a civil debate on this issue in the coming weeks and months. The president and the CHC members agreed that they share the same goal of fixing the broken immigration system through legislative action, and that it is in the best interests of our nation's economic and security needs to do so at the earliest possible opportunity.

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