Immigration:

"I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. ... And let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses, and further enrich this nation."

Obama delivered a brief and familiar call for a bipartisan effort on immigration reform tonight. But he also singled out a desire to end the deportation of young, educated illegal immigrants, presumably those eligible for the DREAM Act, which was narrowly defeated in the last Congress.

Obama said those immigrants can "further enrich this nation."

Several nonpartisan studies have found that allowing more highly-skilled young workers to remain in or immigrate to the U.S. would benefit the economy.

In the technology and engineering fields alone, for example, nearly a quarter of all new businesses are founded by immigrants, and they account for a significant chunk of jobs. Many of these entrepreneurs came to the United States as students and stayed.

But immigration opponents say legalization of young immigrants -- regardless of their education level or military service -- could cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated late last year that one version of the DREAM Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 currently undocumented aliens, would reduce the deficit by $1.4 billion in the first decade because of increased tax revenue from immigrant residents.

But the same study also projects the bill could add between $5 billion and $20 billion to the deficit by 2060 through generation of additional benefit program costs.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/State_of ... d=12760731