June 25, 2009
Posted: June 25th, 2009 04:52 PM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama began tackling the contentious issue of immigration reform Thursday, hosting a bipartisan group of congressmen at the White House for what the administration called the "launch of a policy conversation."

The meeting, which was delayed twice as economic issues took center stage, was designed to be an "honest discussion of issues where we can identify areas of agreement, and areas where we still have work to do," according to the White House.

"I'm confident that if we enter into this (process) with the notion that this is a nation of laws that have to be observed and this is a nation of immigrants, then we're going to create a stronger nation for our children and our grandchildren," Obama said.

The president conceded, however, that "comprehensive immigration reform is difficult. We know it's a sensitive and politically volatile issue."

The meeting was short on specifics, but long on promises of cooperation across party lines. During the meeting, Obama sat next to his 2008 general election opponent, Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain.

The president said he wanted to "commend" McCain, who "has already paid a significant political cost for doing the right thing" on immigration.

McCain has been severely criticized by conservative Republicans for promoting a comprehensive immigration solution that includes a path to citizenship for the country's estimated 12 million undocumented workers.

Obama said the question of how to deal with those workers will have to be dealt with in a "practical, common-sense way."

The public is "ready for us to do so, but it's going to require some heavy lifting," Obama warned. "It's going to require a victory of practicality ... over short-term politics."

The meeting came less than a week after the president told a Hispanic audience that the "fair, practical and promising way forward" is to strengthen border security, clarify the status of those who are here illegally, and require illegal immigrants to pay a penalty and taxes.

He also said undocumented workers should learn English and "go to the back of the line behind those who played by rules" in terms of applying for citizenship.

–CNN's Dan Lothian and Lisa Sylvester contributed to this report

Filed under: Immigration • President Obama


Tatianna   June 25th, 2009 11:19 pm ET

OK, we can now determine scientifically and without any doubt that Obama is naive and in way over his head. His plans are unstainable and has no idea what he is doing. Hes the poster child for the worst case scenarios. Destroying the capitalist economy, putting America in massive debt for generations, and obliterating our national security and standing in the world. Obama may not realize it yet, but his Katrina moment has arrived. Except now it is a nation, not one city, in trouble. Surely this president has other motives, but even if his intentions are good, we all know the substance of the pavement on the road to perdition.

lkb   June 25th, 2009 9:47 pm ET

You are right...no american will work the fields in California. Americans would rather collect welfare, take government handouts and ask for free medical care than do an honest days work that they feel demeaning. Why do you think Obama won the election?
Laws are in place to legally enter this country, It is about time we enforce those laws.

m smith   June 25th, 2009 9:47 pm ET

Well all the family oriented christians' have spoken so now just go back and do what you do best commit adultry ,treat gays as second class citizens ,call everyone who dosen't agree with you a socialist unpatriotic liberal. Find a country to invade and sit around and listen to Rush. The president should try deporting these nuts

Peter   June 25th, 2009 9:29 pm ET

What difference does it make? The country sends most of its jobs overseas anyway.

Have you ever tried to understand a Dell tech support representative? If you speak the native dialect in India, you are good-to-go. If you speak only English, like most people buying Dell Products, you will never be able to understand one word they're saying.

Glenn   June 25th, 2009 9:24 pm ET

Your Tax dollars at work.

See below article.

Chris   June 25th, 2009 9:13 pm ET

At one time there was NOT ONE person in this part of the world. How can anyone post that Native Americans or anyone else can say they had control over this whole great country? Does anyone on here know that the lands were all connected years ago? Does anyone on here know that the world is continually evolving? We have laws in place and really folks, all that most sensible people are asking is that EVERYONE coming here now follow the same laws. No special allowances for law breakers, no special shortcuts around the immigration laws that our government have in place. Why can't people who have come here illegally understand that simple procedure?

Willy Brown   June 25th, 2009 5:57 pm ET

Wonder Obama has over reached too.

lynn in NM   June 25th, 2009 5:56 pm ET

I guess Iran is too big an issue for him right now. Let's not forget North Korea either. He's not doing well in the public image with them, so let's try something new.

free labor   June 25th, 2009 5:54 pm ET

Lets put republicans in labor camps and use them to pick produce.

Robin   June 25th, 2009 5:54 pm ET

@IndepndentAmerican June 25th, 2009 5:49 pm ET

How much money will it take to round up and deport millions of undocumented immigrants?

-------------------------------

Make them cover the cost for a return trip home. We are the only country in the world that rewards people that enter it illegally.

LacrosseMom   June 25th, 2009 5:54 pm ET

********************PLease Post CNN***********************************

The GOPers are posting fast and furious. We need a JUST immigration system, since we are ..........a Christian Nation........... right???

We can't round up and deport millions! We can't have their American children abandoned! That would be inhumane!

Seems that CNN does not like my reference to Jesus, in the last few comments I have posted....... or attempted to post. But here it goes......

The far-right likes to claim it is Christian but there is nothing Christian about the far-right comments posted here!

Jesus said, "whatsoever you do to the least of these you do unto me."

We need fairness, not Nazi tactics!

Al, CA   June 25th, 2009 5:53 pm ET

Good to have a thoughtful president! The more things Obama will have time to deal with the better for all of us.

mandingo   June 25th, 2009 5:51 pm ET

Oh crap here we go with this topic again.....get it done with

IndepndentAmerican   June 25th, 2009 5:49 pm ET

I do not know one American, personally, who will go to California's fields to pick vegetables in the hot sun! Nor do I know one who is unemployed who will go to the local hotel to clean toilets!

We need a just and fair immigration system, one that allows workers to come in legally and go home at the end of the growing season.

What about the children of immigrant who are American citizens? Do you want to deport them too?

How much money will it take to round up and deport millions of undocumented immigrants?

C Williams   June 25th, 2009 5:48 pm ET

Put an end to citizenship by birthright...it is a huge incentive to sneak in cheat and thereby steal US citizen status forever for the children of all illegals.

Leah   June 25th, 2009 5:47 pm ET

USA once belonged to "Native American"
Juan Ponce de León from Spain was first to step on Florida
The first settler of USA came from England
So technically speaking, the majority of white people who call USA their land once had ancestor that were immigrants.
I personally think that by improving an immigration law and allow those who are already in USA applied for citizen, paid their penalty so that they can pay taxes and help built USA, is make more sense that continue to have them as illegal working and sending money back to their homeland.
And for those who think that illegal immigrants steeling from you, keep in mind that your ancestor once stole this land from "Native Americans"

Enough   June 25th, 2009 5:44 pm ET

14.5 Million unemployed US citizens, our taxes paying unemployment benefits,
while
7+Million illegals have our jobs. The other millions are soaking up our benefits meant for our poor!

Cheap labor is not cheap.

What are they drinking.
Call your Congress now. Mandate E-Verify, they will self deport.

Dave C - NJ   June 25th, 2009 5:43 pm ET

I love the guy who said "stop the spending" and "get the illegals out of here."

So it would be free to deport 10 million people? lol

bianca   June 25th, 2009 5:41 pm ET

immigrants are a benefit to the states.

Dave C - NJ   June 25th, 2009 5:40 pm ET

Every conservative answers with "Obama is destroying our way of life" although they can't cite one example.... or the new classic "Obama is a socialist."

I love how they try to stick the socialist tag on Obama when we have less than 2% of US business with govt stakeholders.

That combined with the fact that the "capitalists" on Wall Street starting this whole thing off with BEGGING for bailout money. So are the businesses that asked for money socialists now too?

You clowns need to look up the term in the dictionary.

It won't work, guys. Grow up.

Barryyy   June 25th, 2009 5:39 pm ET

Cnn post this!
This stupid propaganda started by the Bush administration and continued by this administration: we don't need to pass immigration reform, in fact it is not needed at all none whatsoever; tell me why it's needed. What we need to do is first ensure all Americans have jobs, how about Americans for American jobs? By the way the unemployment rate, even in November 2008, was 5% under Bush and now it's at 10% and I thought this guy was supposed to fix the economy!? What happened? And now he wants to make more Americans lose their jobs by passing "illegal immigration reform"? Wake up you idiots, this will be the nail on his presidency coffin mark my words! Forget about 4 years he'll be gone in 2!

phoenix86   June 25th, 2009 5:37 pm ET

Everyone,

Don't worry about illegal aliens here. Once cap & trade becomes law, it is estimated that the US will lose between 1 to 2 million jobs per year. In a few years, US citizens will be the illegal aliens.

gt   June 25th, 2009 5:36 pm ET

these are obamas new voters ,,, there here to stay,,,,,get use to it...hola ,,,,

Joe   June 25th, 2009 5:36 pm ET

if you want to send all illegal immigrants back, better back date it to 1492. seems to me that's when the problem started. English was an alien language to these shores

makesUwonder   June 25th, 2009 5:35 pm ET

Bob in Pa June 25th, 2009 5:15 pm ET

Its real simple – Close the Borders and start deportation.
____________________________________________________________

Yes, please close the borders. We just had another Houston Police Officer killed by an illegal immigrant. Officer Canales was shot in the back by this illegal invader. Officer Canales leaves a wife and two children. Approx. two months ago we had another officer shot in the face by an illegal invader. We had a firefighter hit by a DWI illegal invader and lost both legs. Could I give you more stories, yes, but I won't. Close the borders and start the deportation process now. If you are here and your legal I say welcome, if not, I say leave.
Wonder how many will post I'm a "racist"?

Me in Big D   June 25th, 2009 5:34 pm ET

@Abby – are you joking??? And, yes, there is something that can be done to change him as president – vote against him in 2012! He's really working hard, spending our money. Apparently, you are one of many of the non-taxpaying, "entitlement" crowd.

phoenix86   June 25th, 2009 5:34 pm ET

After 6 months of Obama, one thing is patently obvious. Sarah Palin would be a much better president than Obama.

Scott, Tucson   June 25th, 2009 5:34 pm ET

The president said he wanted to "commend" McCain, who "has already paid a significant political cost for doing the right thing" on immigration.

Yeah it was an Amnesty plan and I guess the politicians have a short memory of the reaction they got from the people of this nation.

Jeff   June 25th, 2009 5:33 pm ET

This is great, time to move forward and great to see that McCain was at the meeting. Our country will benefit tremendously by addressing this problem. Let's pass this bill!!!!!!

B.H.   June 25th, 2009 5:33 pm ET

Its about common sense and following THE LAWS already on the books!

american   June 25th, 2009 5:31 pm ET

from ignorant people like these no better comment is expected,go back to ur roots and tell me how pure of an american u guys are with ur stupid comments,that u dont even know the basics of what u claim to be.

wm weeks   June 25th, 2009 5:30 pm ET

Abby, yes there is, its called an "election".

B Powell   June 25th, 2009 5:29 pm ET

I don't believe ANYTHING Obama says. He is out to destroy the American way of life and tax us into a third world status.
To all the people who voted for this imposter of a president–I hope you will be happy with socialized medicine; the government owning
everything and you having to stick your hand out for your daily meals.
This "man" is dangerous!!!

enough   June 25th, 2009 5:28 pm ET

Mandate E-Verify, they will self deport.

They can leave the same way they came.

Dave C - NJ   June 25th, 2009 5:26 pm ET

You fools don't get it. The illegals will never stop sneaking in as long as Americans are hiring them.

They aren't "taking American jobs" ...they are being GIVEN American jobs by Americans. Did you "take" your job? Nope...it was given to you.

Stop hiring them and they will stop coming.

mmg   June 25th, 2009 5:24 pm ET

Stop already with all this spending!!!! Get the Illegals out of here and that is it!!! Here goes the Great Obama again... another 3 day crisis !!! Just once I wish he would fix ONE ISSUE!!!

Abby   June 25th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

God knows the President is working 24/7! What a change! God bless him and our country! Thank you for working so hard sir!

And all the negative commenters here, there is nothing you can do to change the fact that he’s the president of the US, HAHHAHA

samuel   June 25th, 2009 5:17 pm ET

Do not allow illegals here and send home all violators. Fill their jobs with unemployed Americans and eliminate Spanish from recorded telephone menus. And for those of you who are legal, learn English or go back to Mexico. These people are a drain on our healthcare system and our legal system. Its time to deal with these criminals once and for all. Come here legally or dont come period!

Bob in Pa   June 25th, 2009 5:15 pm ET

Its real simple – Close the Borders and start deportation.

ib   June 25th, 2009 5:13 pm ET

What else will this poor excuse for a president come up with to spend money on that we don't have. Obama is pathetic and worse.

Zero.   June 25th, 2009 5:05 pm ET

Not do more! That is not John McCain. It is about "Clarification"...
Stop diggin in Mud Omama.... Clarify where you stand with iran..

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