Obama's immigration speech comes amid calls executive action

Obama's immigration speech comes amid calls for executive action

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President Obama tours the Bridge of America Cargo Facility in El Paso. | Reuters

By CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN | 5/10/11 4:25 AM EDT Updated: 5/10/11 6:22 PM EDT
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President Barack Obama headed to Texas Tuesday toting a pledge to jump-start work on a comprehensive immigration bill — a long-awaited, never-attained goal of a Hispanic community that is crucial to Obama’s hopes of winning key southwestern states in 2012.

Are they cheering his newfound commitment to the goal? Hardly.

Many top Hispanic activists say Obama’s commitment to a bill is welcomed, but too little, too late, and they’d rather he put just as much effort into actions he can do with the stroke of his pen — such as slowing the deportations of certain illegal immigrants.

“We all understand the importance of the legislative process and that we need a bipartisan bill in the long run, but that will take a long time and given the gridlock in Washington, has an uncertain payoff,â€

"I know some here wish that I could just bypass Congress and change the law myself,â€

[quote]Rather, he is building the pressure on Congress from the outside, giving beyond-the-Beltway speeches and meeting with Hispanic media personalities and actresses, business leaders and political titans such as Michael Bloomberg and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“This is an important part of the campaign to build public awareness and public support for comprehensive immigration reform, which we have to do to make sure that it’s got the kind of momentum behind it that gets Congress’ attention,â€