USA IMMIGRATION NEWS

Comprehensive US Immigration Reform May Happen This Year

Friday, 3 July 2009

President Obama has said in the past that comprehensive immigration reform is one of the many goals he wants to accomplish this year. With the successful completion of his bipartisan immigration summit in Washington it seems that he may be able to accomplish this goal

On June 25th President Obama and Vice President Biden met with a small group of Republican and Democrat members of the Senate and House to discuss immigration reform at the White House. The meeting was intended to launch a much needed discussion on the highly contested issue of immigration reform. President Obama in a statement after the summit reinforced his commitment to the issue saying:

"My administration is fully behind an effort to achieve comprehensive immigration reform. I have asked my Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Janet Napolitano, to lead up a group that is going to be working with a leadership group from both the House and the Senate to start systematically working through these issues from the congressional leaders and those with the relevant jurisdiction."

This summit was one of many recent signals from Washington that comprehensive immigration reform may happen this year. In a statement after the summit, House Speak Nancy Pelosi expressed her commitment to getting immigration reform passed and highlighted that the Senate and the House are ready to get the process moving. Speaker Pelosi expressed her absolute commitment to initiating the debate on immigration reform and added:

"Immigration has been a constant reinvigoration of America. Every person who comes here with their aspirations for a better future for their family, that commitment of making the future better for the next generation is a very American idea. So all of them who come with their enthusiasm for the future make America more American."

On June 24th Senator Schumer (NY), who is the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, made a speech before the Migration Policy Center. In his speech Senator Schumer stated that the ground work is being laid to get comprehensive immigration legislation passed soon. Senator Schumer and his subcommittee have convened hearings titled "Road to Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2009: Clearing the Hurdles." The first two hearings inquired into the possibility of comprehensive immigration reform being passed this year and border security. Two more hearings are scheduled for July to consider a biometric-based employment verification system and restructuring of the U.S. employment-based immigration system. It is clear from his statement that Senator Schumer is committed to taking deliberate steps towards comprehensive immigration reform, he commented on the President’s commitment saying:

"I have no doubt that President Obama has an unyielding commitment to achieving comprehensive immigration reform. And I truly believe that his leadership will be the critical difference in getting us over the hump this time around."

Immigrant activists have also been energized by the recent developments relating to comprehensive immigration reform. Bernie Wolfsdorf, president of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), commended the President saying:

"We believe the President is firmly committed to comprehensive immigration reform and will work with Congress to act and move us forward on this vital issue. The President has repeatedly said he wants immigration reform passed this year. Last year's election results, as well as survey after survey, confirm that the American people want reform, so now is time for Congress to catch up with the voters and pass a bill."

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