Obama faces test over immigration

Steven Stanek, Foreign Correspondent
Last Updated: December 14. 2008 11:37PM UAE / December 14. 2008 7:37PM GMT

WASHINGTON // While many Americans are turning to Barack Obama to engineer a massive economic recovery and draw up a new strategy for two foreign wars, others will look to the president-elect to fulfil a promise he made during his campaign: to take on the contentious issue of immigration reform.

From his protracted primary battle with Hillary Clinton to the presidential race with John McCain, Mr Obama assured audiences he would work to solve a policy riddle that has puzzled politicians for nearly three decades.

“I think it’s time for a president who won’t walk away from something as important as comprehensive [immigration] reform just because it becomes politically unpopular,â€