Obama expects debate on immigration reform bill next month
(CNN) – Seeking to ignite congressional movement on immigration reform, President Obama said Monday he expects the Senate to take significant action on the issue next month.
"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," Obama said at a naturalization ceremony at the White House.
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker']
"We are making progress, but we've got to finish the job," Obama said.
"Everyone pretty much knows what's broken. Everybody knows how to fix it," he also said. "We've all proposed solutions and we've got a lot of white papers and studies, we've just got, at this point, to work up the political courage to do what's required to be done."
The remarks followed a swearing-in ceremony for 28 service members–13 of whom are active duty–in the East Room of the White House. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was also on hand to administer the oath.
"Immigration makes us stronger," Obama also said at the 25-minute event, attended by about 200 friends and family members of those being sworn in.
"It keeps us vibrant, it keeps us hungry, it keeps us prosperous. It is part of what makes this such a dynamic country. If we want to keep attracting the best and the brightest that the world has to offer then we need to do a better job of welcoming them," he added.
Cutoff all government aid and services to illegal alien criminals and the problem will over in a short time span. Then increase the border security to keep it from happening again. This does not affect any legal American citizens and will save boat loads of OUR money!
@Donna
I believe the millions of illegals in America were already here when President Obama was still in college. And as President, more illegal aliens have been deported by President Obama than by any of his predecessors. So far, more than half a million illegal aliens with criminal records and violent background have been deported. And by the way, they weren't just deported to Mexico. Some were deported to South and Central America, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe.
The Tea Party, which is overwhelmingly white and religious, is not going to be involved in immigration reform. The powers that be in the GOP are starting to realize that they will be a perpetual minority party if they don't start attracting non-whites. You don't attract Hispanics by taking a hard line on immigration. Even all of the "legals" have been branded "illegals" at some point in their life by some redneck who doesn't know and doesn't care about the difference. They've also heard racial slurs thrown at them by the same type of anti-immigration lunatic. So..., siding with people who seethe with hatred at Hispanics in general is not the way to grow the party's base.
Ultimately, I think the GOP will give in here. Hard-core, anti-immigration types are kind of finding themselves in the same position as many blacks did in the Democratic party. You're voting for the party. You don't really have any other option. You're not going to the other side, so we're not going to let you dictate everything we do. Honestly, I hope the anti-immigration hardliners prevail and stop the GOP from acting on this. It turns Arizona and Texas bluer, faster.
Excuse me...many of the illegals were also deported to Africa.
Someone should tell Obama to stick it where the sun don't shine!
Obama wants to REWARD CRIMINALS for entering the US ILLEGALLY and then put them on welfare, medicaid and educate them on how to get all of the free stuff that not even the American taxpayer gets.
We have enough immigrants for this presidency. The doors need to be closed for years so we can fix problems with our economy. Obama is all over the place and needs to focus like a laser on the economy for the rest of his presidency.
It is sad when people in the USA cannot identify with what people they don't agree with are saying. Most people have NO PROBLEM with allowing people from other countries to come to the USA by following the laws that are in place. Where logical thinking people have a problem, and that includes a large share of people who went through the rigorus process of becoming legal immigrants, is that Obama and his democratic cronies want to allow all these illegasl in the country with little, if any, effort. It is a slap in the face to any legal immigrant as well as others.
Excuse me but the best and the brightest that need to be welcomed to this country according to Obama do not include those who wade across the Rio Grande into Texas. But then again that does not fit your libby agenda does it.
@Bob
Well, its not our fault you voted for GWB twice.
Obama wants the immigration bill passed so that the Dems can win back the House in 2014. And who are the real losers – we Americans. Obama is so transparent with his socialist policies – the man is just down right disgusting and has no conscience. While the middle class in this country are really suffering – the Obamas will take another 14 vacations on us! We're nothing but suckers to the Obamas.
Then the best and brightest can come and apply for citizenship.
That's NOT what we are getting. We are getting the ones who sneek in and take our low level uneducated jobs and pay NO taxes, but consume every other freebie we have to offer.
Obama says "Immigration makes us stronger" No, SELECTIVE immigration makes us stronger. If millions of poor Mexican immigrants make us stronger, then California should be a paradise. Instead it now resembles the Third World with a rapidly imploding economy.
THEN he says "If we want to keep attracting the best and the brightest that the world has to offer then we need to do a better job of welcoming them" WHAT? The BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST? He obviously hasn't seen who's coming over the border lately! We are attracting the dregs of society from Third World nations – meanwhile immigration of Europeans was drastically reduced by the awful Immigration Act of 1965. If you REALLY want to attack the "best and the brightest" then CLOSE the border and establish STANDARDS for the people coming in.
Is it really a mystery why so many people don't like this corrupt, disingenuous politician we call a President?
@GonzoinHouston,
The GOP absolutely MUST move back to the center. The party has for too long been hijacked by the extremists and religious nut-jobs. Extremists are by their very nature extreme in position, making them dangerous to any who do no share their extremist views. This applies equally to both the left and the right.
Only from the center can cool heads and common sense prevail. Our best leaders have always been slightly left or slightly right of center, but never too far to either extreme.
As a citizen i expect a secure border and that 12 million illegals won't steal the jobs of the 20 million unemployed citizens
If we hadn't spent so much on subduing Afghanistan and Iraq, perhaps we could have finished what we started in 1848 and annexed the whole place instead of just the southwest parts of the U.S. Then the inhabitants wouldn't have to move, they'd already be here.
lol.
Millions of American Citizens would be suffering pay cut, furloughs, lay offs because of the sequester monster that Obama signed into law. And this idiot instead of avoiding the sequester and helping the middle class is hell bent on legalizing illegals and putting more strain on already eroded US economy.
Wont happen, interested in hearing house proposal, they are usually good for a laugh
Well Folks,
The Guy is serious ! Can't you tell. He said so ! AND for the record, he is serious about a budget ! Can't you tell !! Right here in River City the School system is looking for ways to cut the School Budget because of waning Tax Revenues. And you want what ? More people on the welfare rolls. OK !! Gee I hope you Liberal's have unliminted funds to pay foe all the illegal's you want to allow to jump the line !
Another Obama do nothing but expect how about doing something
democrats and obama use latinos now like they use blacks, for decades. fall to their treachery at your own peril latinos. decades later the democrats have done little or nothing for the blacks except kept them in government bondage. they will inevitably enslave you as well with their failed government dependency offers.