Obama on Immigration Reform: “It’s the right thing to do”
By Jane Susskind | 06/15/2012 | Immigration | 7 Comments
“These are young people who study in our schools, play in our neighborhoods, are friends of our kids, they pledge allegiance to our flag. They are Americans in their hearts, their minds, in every single way but one: on paper.”
Obama asked Americans to “put yourself in their shoes,” highlighting the hard work and patriotism of immigrants who were illegally brought into this country as children, sometimes even infants.
“I’ve said time and time again to Congress, send me the DREAM Act, put it on my desk, and I will sign it right away.”
Attacking Republicans, he notes the bill was blocked by the Senate GOP. Drawing attention to the partisan politics that has halted immigration reform, he continues:
“The need hasn’t changed. It’s still the right thing to do. The only thing that’s changed is the politics.”
Citing enforcement as the focus of his immigration policy, he boasts that there are fewer illegal crossings now than in any time in the last 40 years, while deportation of criminals is up 80 percent.
Echoing the sentiment of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, he says:
“Effective immediate, the Department of Homeland Security is taking steps to lift the shadow of deportation from these young people.” He clarifies, “This is not amnesty. This is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenships. It’s not a permanent fix.” He concludes, “It is the right thing to do.”
Calling on Congress to address the issue, he continues,
“Congress needs to act. There is still time for Congress to pass the DREAM Act this year because these students deserve to plan their lives in more than 2 year increments.” He repeats, “There’s no reasons why we can’t come together and get this done. As president, I will not give up on this issue, not just because it’s the right thing to do for our economy, not just because it’s the right thing to do for immigrants, but because it’s the right thing to do.”
A seemingly frustrated Obama concluded his speech by addressing an unexpected question asked in the middle of his speech, explaining that this is the right thing to do because, “these young people are going to make extraordinary contributions and are already making extraordinary contributions to our society.”
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7 Comments
Lauren Moore
06.15.2012
@laurendimitra
I am all for “Right to Birth” being grounds for citizenship to a country. But as someone who has been living in a foreign country (Germany) as a legal immigrant for about 13 years now, I stand by Germany and most other countries that just growing up in a country does not make you a citizen, especially if it is an illegal immigration. We do not have the money for this. We need to be focusing on the quality of life for our own citizens, like health care and education before we can extend the circle for illegal immigrants. I’m not saying I don’t sympathize with them, but they are still illegal and should not be given U.S. citizen rights when they aren’t citizens.
Lucas Eaves
06.15.2012
@lucaseaves
The United States is a country that was founded on various waves of immigration. Its relation to immigration is very different from the one European countries have, so comparing Germany to the US is a difficult task.
Dan Richards
06.15.2012
@danrich
“so comparing Germany to the US is a difficult task.” only if you choose to make it so.
I agree, having lived in Australia for a while, this is a true point, as well as marrying a citizen just to get Citizenship is not allowed there either, and I agree. If a person wants to come here, they need to do it the right way, and not bypass our laws just because they feel they have some right to.
Matt Metzner
06.18.2012
@mmetzner
The best part about this is that we are finally revisiting the issue. The debate on immigration has faded in the past few years and now is a good time to bring the issue back into focus. We are seeing low numbers of illegal immigrants coming into the country, many leaving, and those that are trying to use the legal process to gain citizenship are facing a massive bureaucracy.
Bob Jackson
06.19.2012
MIGRATION by our Friends on our southern border, has been a fact-of-life since the early 20th century. Early on, the U. S. Government REQUESTED Labor Assistance from the Mexican Government to backfill the loss of male labor during war-time – through the Korean War in the 1950’s. The attitude toward “Mexican Migrant Citizenship” – best case, has been ambiguous over time. And there was a “wink-and-nod” assumption that it was O.K. for these non-citizens to remain in our country without papers. Who do you think it was that told the Mexican Immigrants it was “Appropriate and Acceptable” to identify themselves as members of the Caucasian (White) race?
History tends to have an impact on cultures, and has far reaching implications. Just ask some of the citizens whose forefathers were brought to these shores in chains. …….
Faith Eischen
06.20.2012
@faitheischen
Sen. Marco Rubio stated, (and was actually correct in making this statement according to the Department of Homeland Security and the Organization of for Economic Cooperation and Development approximately) that “a million people [immigrants] come into this country legally. No other country comes close to that.” Although the U.S. has tough policies on immigration, the government is allowing immigrants access/citizenship.
Debbie
06.23.2012
It makes no sense. Saying he’s allowing amnesty to a chosen population is ridiculous when he won’t even secure our borders. Secure the borders first – then talk about (not by edict) who should be allowed to remain. This man just wants votes – any way he can get them. Since there is no ID check at voting polls, his election stooges will be bussing illegal immigrants to vote.