Obama in Texas: Immigration Reform is 'Economic Imperative'

Obama says ‘fear and resentment’ behind opposition to reform
Jim Forsyth




President Obama issued a call for immigration reform during a speech in El Paso this afternoon, blaming opposition to legal status for illegal immigrants on 'fear and resentment,' 1200 WOAI news reports.

"Because undocumented immigrants live in the shadows, they are vulnerable to unscrupulous businesses that skirt taxes, pay workers less than the minimum wage, or cut corners with health and safety," the President said. "This puts companies who follow those rules, and Americans who rightly demand the minimum wage or overtime or just a safe place to work, at an unfair disadvantage."

The President cited the examples of several immigrants, pointing out that Google, Intel, Yahoo, and eBay were all founded by immigrants.

"We don't want the next Intel of Google to be created in China or India, we want those companies and jobs to take root in America."

The President 'demanded that Washington finally meet its responsibility to solve the immigration problem.'

"All of us deserve our freedom and our pursuit of happiness," Obama said. "In embracing America, you can become America."

The President said he has done much to increase border security, and said people who 'want border security first' will never be satisfied.

"Next they will want a moat, and alligators in the moat," the President said.

He said the best way to secure the borders is to 'fix the system as a whole, so fewer people have incentive to enter illegally in search of work in the first place.'

"There is a consensus around fixing what's broken," the President said. "Now we need Congress to catch up to a train that's leaving the station. Now we need to come together around reform that reflects our values as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrations, that demands that everyone take responsibility."

The President said there are now 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. He said they have to 'admit they broke the rules.'

His proposal calls for the undocumented to pay their taxes, pay a fine, and learn English. Then they have to 'undergo background checks and a lengthy process before they can get in line for legalization.'

Obama also called for a revival of the DREAM Act, a proposal which failed to win approval by the Democratic Congress last fall, which would allow the children of illegals who were under 15 when their parents brought them here, if they join the military or successfully complete two years of college.

U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tx), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which would have to consider any immigration legislation, says Obama's proposals amount to 'amnesty' and will not be considered by his committee.

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