Immigration reformers press WH

Posted: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:00 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Barack Obama

From NBC's Mark Murray
In advance of President Obama's meeting tomorrow to discuss immigration reform with congressional Democrats and Republicans, immigration advocates held a conference call today with reporters, urging the Obama administration to make immigration a priority -- this year.

Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento said that tomorrow's meeting will tell them whether the White House is serious about enacting comprehensive immigration reform or whether it's timid. "Delaying immigration reform will be a mistake," he said, arguing that the country can no longer accept the status quo.

Tamar Jacoby, president and CEO of ImmigrationWorks USA, added that when the economy begins to recover, employers will need immigrant labor. "This is the time to do it. This is the time to start preparing for the economic recovery."

Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, said it was smart policy and smart politics to take up immigration reform. He noted that Obama was elected in no small part because independent voters thought he and the Democrats were best able to find solutions to challenging problems like immigration. He also said Republicans "will have a huge price to pay" if they are seen as blocking immigration reform and scapegoating immigrants and Latinos.

Asked about Robert Gibbs' recent comment that the "math" might be against immigration reform this year, Sharry replied, "When it comes to counting votes in the U.S. Congress, we tend to look to Harry Reid before Robert Gibbs."

Senate Majority Leader Reid, per Sharry, has said that the votes are there.

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Comments

They need to save this issue until right before the 2010 elections across the U.S.

That'll get it passed.

GP NW Indiana (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:07 PM)

They're coming fast and furious now aren't they America? If Obama can't dazzle us with brilliance, he'll baffle all of us with bs. Health care reform, energy/environment reform, and now immigration reform. Let us all guess, this bill will get 2 hours of public hearing before the Senate/House vote on it. And it will be nothing more then amnesty for the 20 million or so illegals here - the same Kennedy bill that failed last year. And Americans, real Americans, will have to continue to pick up the tap on these new minted legals" for their health care and all the other social services they are living off of.

But build a fence to keep any more illegals out? Not a chance. Those are future Democrat votes.

American Pie (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:11 PM)

Perfect timing. Unemployment will be above 10%. Illegal immigrants are actually returning home because there's no work and congress has nothing on it's agenda apart from healt care reform, energy and education. There should be a bill on the president's desk by fall.

Alan, NJ (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:12 PM)

Ray the Reformer (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:13 PM)

From NBC's Mark Murray
In advance of President Obama's meeting tomorrow to discuss immigration reform with congressional Democrats and Republicans, immigration advocates held a conference call today with reporters, urging the Obama administration to make immigration a priority -- this year.

It will have it's seat at the table like every other issue that has been left in shambels. They may as well get in line and take a number. Once HCR is through both houses and voted on then the rest should follow. No more and no less.

Anita, Biemingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:18 PM)

First Read: Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, said it was smart policy and smart politics to take up immigration reform. He noted that Obama was elected in no small part because independent voters thought he and the Democrats were best able to find solutions to challenging problems like immigration. He also said Republicans "will have a huge price to pay" if they are seen as blocking immigration reform and scapegoating immigrants and Latinos.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Wow, now there's a threat! So if we, we as in being Americas, don't bow down and give the ILLEGALS what they want, then there's going to be trouble? What part of ILLEGAL is unclear to these people? The ILLEGALs take our jobs, take our social safety net benefits, bankrupt our states, and fill our prisons, and this little dweeb named Sharry is threatening us that they'll be a price to pay unless we give the ILLEGALS more money?

Whose's country is this anyway?

T Morris, Houston Tx (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:18 PM)

Notice Obama and his little helper monkeys never tell you what the immigration reform is. If a Democrat/Obama says reform, grab your wallet, because every "reform" Obama proposes will cost you money. A lot of money.
Ray the Reformer

Bush had a lot of gophers helping him and he still f****** up a lot of money didn't he? 1.2 trillion to be exact.

Anita, Biemingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:22 PM)

"Tamar Jacoby, president and CEO of ImmigrationWorks USA, added that when the economy begins to recover, employers will need immigrant labor. "This is the time to do it. This is the time to start preparing for the economic recovery."

Employers don't need illegal alien labor they want them because they can pay them slave wages and treat them like dogs. It would seem that there should be no shortage of American citizens to hire currently.

MK,MO (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:23 PM)

MK,MO (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:24 PM)

And Americans, real Americans, will have to continue to pick up the tap on these new minted legals" for their health care and all the other social services they are living off of.

But build a fence to keep any more illegals out? Not a chance. Those are future Democrat votes. American Pie (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:11 PM)

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Actually companies will have to start paying a living wage to these "newly minted legals" which then creates a semi-fair playing field. They are then are also subject to income, state, and medicare taxes.

My guess is if they nationalize these immigrants that demand for them will go down because of the increase in wage to keep them.

But hey, don't let your hatred toward other cultures keep you from stating that america is just for people who were born here (like the native americans right?)

Your ancestors were most like treated the same way when they landed in NY or any other port in this country.

GP NW Indiana (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:30 PM)

Recent polling shows that 64% of Americans support comprehensive immigration reform. 86% of Latinos support it. Three out of four Latinos polled expect Obama to get this done in the first year of his presidency. The stakes are high.

Jackie, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:32 PM)

Fread: Senate Majority Leader Reid, per Sharry, has said that the votes are there.

Votes 'are there' for what? Does anyone know what Reid is talking about? Does Reid know what he's talking about? In the flurry of things congress is doing, has anyone heard about what immigration legislation congress is even working on? I doubt congress even knows.

And it looks like Reid is tight with the amnesty lobbyist Sharry. Sharry is even speaking for him now.

Bill Mee, NJ (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:35 PM)

Following HCR DADT and DOMA should follow. It should be at the same time as the immigration bill. This would make sense to me. Hot button issues such as DADT and DOMA shouldn't be tackled at the onset of this Administration. Clinton made that error and Health Care Reform got lost following DADT.

The president is doing the right thing. DOMA and DADT require close examination. The laws are muddy water and muddy water laws should be given careful attention and consideration. The president wasn't able to just overturn those laws with a stroke of the pen as some thought. Even his power was limited.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:35 PM)

this is a workable solution, that is good for our country, and for our economy. On the jobs issue, do you really expect an unemployed autoworker in Detroit to move across the country and start picking strawberries in CA? Get real. Requiring people to come out of the shadows, get on the right side of the law, pay a fine, study english and get on a path to citisenship is what the majority (yes, 86 percent of likely voters!) support. Anti immigrants are loud, but they don't deliver where it counts, at the voting booth.

pumaspaco (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:36 PM)

Okay, but what's a better time for an immigration bill? The time is now.

Anyone else see Bill O'Reilly play dolls... can't even believe this was on television: http://www.governmentalityblog.com/my_weblog/2009/06/playing-with-dolls-as-journalism-glenn-beck-bill-oreilly-and-their-homophobic-remarks.html

Sam, NYC (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:37 PM)

So do Frank Sharry and Tamar Jacoby now speak for the administration and Congress? Lobbyists, right? Heavy Democratic fundraisers and contributers right?

Change we can believe in, right?

Randy Wright, Miadison WI (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:38 PM)

Senate Majority Leader Reid, per Sharry, has said that the votes are there

Then there shouldn't be any problems getting it passed.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:38 PM)

But build a fence to keep any more illegals out? Not a chance. Those are future Democrat votes. American Pie (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:11 PM)
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Yeah the multi billion dollar snafu...we built miles of fence that went over budget by billions. (nobody complaining about that addition to the deficit)

but yet those trying to get in through mexico spent a few hundred bucks and you guessed it...Started tunneling.

We need to help the mexican govt. raise the standards of living in mexico, and we need to crack down on businesses that exploit illegal labor.

People come to america to have a better life...from all countries. When you tout democracy and the freedom of america as the only way to govern, don't be suprised when people want to join your ranks.

GP NW Indiana (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:38 PM)

It is a long time coming, as with many of the other issues. But, immigration affects every other issue on the table- healthcare and the economy. Until we develop a system that works for America(that's what comprehensive means), it will only get worse, not go away. We have 12 million workers here who are fundamental to boosting our economy and we want them to be tax paying Americans. But, first they need a line to get in to and a path to citizenship. It is the only way we can regain control over our borders and our country

ElizabethC, Houston, Texas (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:40 PM)

Any word on how the congressional black caucus feels about this? They weren't real thrilled with the influx into New Orleans.

Dave, Tn (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:41 PM)

Glad someone is talking about getting immigrants in the system and paying taxes and protected by labor laws. We aren't going to deport them or drive them out, so let's deal with reality and make them part of "us" and stop treating them like a "them."

Doug, DC (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:44 PM)

Casey, Lawrence, KS (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:53 PM)

Obama will have turned on a big neon WELCOME sign for illegals as soon as his Health Care "Reform" bill is passed.

Everything Is Free In America For One Low Fee In America (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:55 PM)

Immigration is a significant issue, but it needs to wait its turn. HCR and Energy are more important to the recovery then immigration reform.

To be fair this is a significant issue.

As GW suggests:
"They need to save this issue until right before the 2010 elections across the U.S.
That'll get it passed"

Of course plenty of political bickering surrounds this issue. It will be done.

Remember that the President and his team think strategicly (Sotomayor nomination) and they will raise this issue when the time is right

To Quote Eric: "In Obama We Trust!"
Si se puedes! Yes we can!

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:56 PM)

No illegals ... they are milking us dry.

We have laws. Enforce them.

Stop giving away our rights to others who have none and even have the gall to make political and monetary demands to our government.

Moon Dawg (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 3:06 PM)

GP NW Indiana "The Region"

You are spot on target. Keep posting.

Ron Indiana (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 3:07 PM)

Immigration reform would give the United States MORE taxpayers, not take money from taxpayers. Especially with the current state of the economy, there should be a way for those who want to become Americans and want to contribute to do so without risking being separated from their families. Right now, our immigration system hurts everyone. I think Harry Reid is completely right on this one.
Casey, Lawrence, KS

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That's exactly what the politicians in California said. Look where that got them. California is stopping welfare. Not cutting, stopping! California is stopping care to the elderly. Not cutting, stopping! California has so many new taxpayers, now they are broke.

As California goes, so goes the country.

Thomas Wikii, San Jose CA (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 3:11 PM)

President Obama needs to do the Right thing and pass immigration reform..this undocumented immigrants work the hardest jobs and America needs them...also this will shut down all the Racists that are out there

Scott (Sent Wednesday, June 24, 2009 3:12 PM)

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