Immigration reform and Obama's agenda in El Paso

As a presidential candidate in 2008, President Barack Obama vowed to fight for immigration reform that would fix the dysfunctional immigration system, as well as provide more security for the border.

During his campaign, Obama talked about removing the incentives that bring immigrants to this country by cracking down on those employees who hire undocumented people. He also emphasized bringing people out of the shadows by giving them the opportunity to legalize their status through paying a fine, learning English and eventually becoming US citizens.

Now, two-and-a-half years into his presidency, immigration reform has not been a priority for Mr. Obama’s administration and issues such as the health reform and the economy, among others, have dominated his and others attention. Most of his efforts in the area of immigration have been focused on securing the border through deploying more agents and technology, but not much has been done or said about the millions of people who are still waiting for a path to legalize their immigration status. 

Now, when the rhetoric for the 2012 presidential campaign is starting up, President Obama is once more bringing up the issue here in El Paso, where he will deliver a speech on immigration reform during his short visit this Tuesday.

It is significant that Mr. Obama chose El Paso to talk about immigration. He is coming to this area just 10 days after the successful military operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.  What better place to talk about the need to strengthen border security than the city that has as its neighbor, the most dangerous city in the world?

President Obama will most likely tell Americans how much has been done and invested to protect the border and will assure them that the efforts will continue. But, as he has done in recent meetings with union and religious leaders, legislators and private sector leaders, he will discuss the need to revamp the immigration system to make it more fair and efficient.

It is estimated that 12 million people live in this country without proper documentation. President Obama supported the DREAM Act, a bill that would legalize undocumented students who were brought to the U.S. by their parents at a very young age, but the U.S. Senate rejected it once again in December 2010. Obama’s approval rating is now 11 percent higher than it was before the death of bin Laden, and politically, this could prove to be a good time for him to push for immigration reform, while wooing the necessary and crucial Hispanic vote for the next election. 

Although Obama may have the Hispanic population’s support for his proposals, this doesn’t necessarily mean that immigration reform is close at hand. In the end, it is who holds legislative power that determines the viability of a measure of this magnitude. If the Republican majority-held Congress hasn’t been supportive of immigration reform during Obama’s presidency, there is no reason to think they will do so during the lead up to the next presidential election.

But let’s not speculate, instead we should pay attention to what President Obama says during his speech tomorrow. Perhaps he will surprise us.

 

 

Comments

[james wright]

What part of illegal don't people understand. Obama wants the Mexican vote so he will tell them exactly what they want to hear and then do the same thing as before... nothing.

[nick]

Yeah lets give them reform so we as americans have to learm spanish for them and also be unemployed so they can break the law and have a better life.

[nick]

Yeah lets give them reform so we as americans have to learm spanish for them and also be unemployed so they can break the law and have a better life.

[nick]

Yeah lets give them reform so we as americans have to learm spanish for them and also be unemployed so they can break the law and have a better life.

[pgillenw]

Obama playing to possible Hispanic votes illegal or not.

Witnessed his sad sad speech. Really "moving the bar"? Give me a break.

Enforce the laws of this the United States or step aside. Obama and his Justice Dept. belong in jail.