Thread: Transcript of Obama's speech

Transcript: Obama's immigration address in El Paso, Texas


THE PRESIDENT: Hello, El Paso! (Applause.) Well, it is wonderful -- wonderful to be back with all of you in the Lone Star State. (Applause.) Everything is bigger in Texas. (Applause.)


AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you!


THE PRESIDENT: I love you back! (Applause.) Even the welcomes are bigger. (Applause.) So, in appreciation, I wanted to give a big policy speech outside on a really hot day. (Laughter.) Those of you who are still wearing your jackets, feel free to take them off. I hope everybody is wearing sunscreen.


AUDIENCE MEMBER: We live here.


THE PRESIDENT: You say you live here? You don’t need it, huh? (Laughter.) Well, it is a great honor to be here. And I want to express my appreciation to all of you for taking the time to come out today.


AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you!


THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you. (Applause.)


You know, about a week ago, I delivered a commencement address at Miami Dade Community College, which is one of the most diverse schools in the nation. The graduates were proud that their class could claim heritage from 181 countries around the world -- 181 countries. (Applause.)


Many of the students were immigrants themselves, coming to America with little more than the dream of their parents and the clothes on their back. A handful had discovered only in adolescence or adulthood that they were undocumented. But they worked hard and they gave it their all, and so they earned those diplomas.


And at the ceremony, 181 flags -- one for every nation that was represented -- was marched across the stage. And each one was applauded by the graduates and the relatives with ties to those countries. So when the Haitian flag went by, all the Haitian kids -- Haitian American kids shouted out. And when the Guatemalan flag went by, all the kids of Guatemalan heritage shouted out. And when the Ukrainian flag went by, I think one kid shouted out. (Laughter.) This was down in Miami. (Laughter.) If it had been in Chicago, there would have been more.


But then, the last flag, the American flag, came into view. And everyone in the room erupted in applause. Everybody cheered. (Applause.) So, yes, their parents and grandparents -- some of the graduates themselves -- had come from every corner of the globe. But it was here that they had found opportunity. It was here that they had a chance to contribute to the nation that is their home.

And it was a reminder of a simple idea, as old as America itself: E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. We define ourselves as a nation of immigrants -- a nation that welcomes those willing to embrace America’s ideals and America’s precepts. That’s why millions of people, ancestors to most of us, braved hardship and great risk to come here -- so they could be free to work and worship and start a business and live their lives in peace and prosperity. The Asian immigrants who made their way to California’s Angel Island. The German and Scandinavians who settled across the Midwest. The waves of Irish, and Italian, and Polish, and Russian, and Jewish immigrants who leaned against the railing to catch their first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty.


This flow of immigrants has helped make this country stronger and more prosperous. (Applause.) We can point to the genius of Einstein, the designs of I. M. Pei, the stories of Isaac Asimov, the entire industries that were forged by Andrew Carnegie.


And then when I think about immigration I think about the naturalization ceremonies that we’ve held at the White House for members of our military. Nothing could be more inspiring. Even though they were not yet citizens when they joined our military, these men and women signed up to serve.

We did one event at the White House and a young man named Granger Michael from Papua New Guinea, a Marine who had been deployed to Iraq three times, was there. And you know what he said about becoming an American citizen? He said, “I might as well. I love this country already.â€

The White House Blog
President Obama on Fixing Our Broken Immigration System: "E Pluribus, Unum"
Posted by Jesse Lee on May 10, 2011 at 05:52 PM EDT

Editor's Note: Join the conversation on how we can fix our immigration system for America's 21st century economy.

In a debate where the participants on all sides are too often portrayed as caricatures, the President sought to break through the stalemate by reminding us all that it is a debate about real people. Speaking in El Paso, Texas, he talked about the graduates from 181 countries at Miami Dade Community College, who erupted with applause as the American flag came out before the President’s commencement address there recently. He talked about a Marine who came from Papua New Guinea and deployed to Iraq three times – when asked about becoming an American citizen, he said, “I might as well. I love this country already.â€

"Here We Go Again!"

Originally Posted by imblest

AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you!

THE PRESIDENT: I love you back! (Applause.)

Complete plan @
The President’s Blueprint for Building a 21st Century Immigration System

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default ... eprint.pdf

Obama
the only one you love are the illegal immigrant
you only want them for vote that it & they are all fool .

they have our jobs & you don't care about the American at all
every thing you say it all lies'.
No amnesty

RINOs say secure the border first not the American People!
We expect and pay for Security of our ports and Border.
We Pay for Immigration Enforcement. NOT REFORM...
Obama and previous administrations?? Irresponsible TRAITORS!!

So the illegals will have to pay a fine and get in the back of the line? In the meantime do they get to keep their stolen jobs and still live here undocumented?

We don't want amnesty of any kind. We have made ourselves crystal clear. We have millions of un-employed citizens who do not need to compete with anyone including the college kids about to enter the workforce. We have families to feed too!

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Complete plan @
The President’s Blueprint for Building a 21st Century Immigration System

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default ... eprint.pdf

OMG!!! I've barely read the first 5 pages of this and I'm going to BARF!!! This is scary stuff!!! Why can't our great leader distinguish between LEGAL AND ILLEGAL??? This man has GOT TO GO!!!!

And a few years later, he found himself more than 100 miles above the surface of the Earth, staring out of the window of the shuttle Discovery, and

Probably stole the damn thing.