President Obama "Committed" to Comprehensive Immigration Reform
During a speech at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast President Barack Obama assured the audience that he was committed to comprehensive immigration reform.
"Together we must build a future where the promise of America is kept for a new generation.... We also know that keeping this promise means upholding America's tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants." Obama went on to say, "[t]hose things aren't contradictory, they're complementary. That's why I'm committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform as president of the United States."
President Obama, however, did not suggest a time frame for his push to amnesty America's 12-18 million illegal aliens. Indeed, in recent weeks many of President Obama's Hispanic supporters have expressed concern at his refusal push the matter. President Obama's press secretary Robert Gibbs has indicated that the economic problems facing America may force the president to delay the push for amnesty until 2010.
It should also be noted that the Congress has shown little interest in pushing immigration reform (amnesty) so far during the 111th Congress. With financial regulation and health care reform at the top of Congress' agenda, seemingly less-important matters such as immigration reform have been placed on the back burner.
Click here to read President Obama's speech in full.