This has been an exciting week.
Last Tuesday President Obama traveled to Nevada to redouble our Administration's efforts to work with Congress on commonsense reform to fix our broken immigration system so that everyone plays by the same rules. Speaking from Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, the President laid out further detail on the principles he has fought for over the last four years, and expressed support for the bipartisan consensus building in the Senate that culminated in principles being unveiled the day before the President's speech that largely align with the President's blueprint.
Find out about the President's plan on WhiteHouse.gov/Immigration.
Watch a video of the President's full speech or you can read the President's remarks.
The President called on Congress to act and made it clear that, "if Congress is unable to move forward in a timely fashion, [he] will send up a bill based on [his] proposal and insist that they vote on it right away."
He also reiterated that any commonsense reform should include four key components: continuing to strengthen border security, cracking down on employers that hire undocumented workers, creating a path to earned citizenship, and streamlining our legal immigration system for families, workers, and employers.
View a more detailed fact sheet on the President's plan.
Later in the week, Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, sat down with a broad group of immigration reform advocates from across the country to discuss President Obama's plan to fix our broken immigration system in a live Google+ Hangout. During the virtual roundtable discussion, participants asked questions about the President's vision on topics ranging from creating an earned path to citizenship, the DREAM Act, Startup visas for entrepreneurs, and the role of the faith community in the immigration reform debate.
Below is the full video in case you missed it.
Yesterday, President Obama met with progressive and labor leaders, and later with business leaders to continue a dialogue on the economic imperative for immigration reform and how it fits into his broader agenda to build and grow the middle class.
It's an exciting time to get engaged in this issue and make your voice heard. As always, please share with your networks and we look forward to your continued engagement!
Julie Chavez Rodriguez
Associate Director
White House | Office of Public Engagement
Agency Updates
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
travels to San Diego to view border security operations at the
Southwest border
February 4, 2013
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano traveled to San
Diego to view border security operations at the Southwest border,
meet with state and local stakeholders, and discuss the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) on-going efforts to
secure the border while facilitating lawful travel and trade. In
San Diego, Secretary Napolitano received an operational briefing on
the maritime and land border in California, and participated in an
aerial tour of the U.S.-Mexico border and the San Ysidro and Otay
Mesa Ports of Entry.
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
continues border security inspection in Clint and El Paso,
Texas
February 5, 2013
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano continued her
inspection of border security operations in Clint and El Paso,
Texas to review border security. Secretary Napolitano visited the
Fabens Border Patrol Station in Clint, Texas and the U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Air and Marine branch in El
Paso, Texas where she received operational briefings and
participated in an aerial tour of the El Paso-Mexico border
region.
Blog Highlights
Keep Up to Date on President Obama's
Immigration Proposal
We are pleased to share that there is now a new and updated online
resource center available through the White House website to help
you stay on top of this critical debate.
Immigration Leaders Welcome President Obama's
Proposal for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Earlier last week, President Barack Obama delivered remarks in Las
Vegas about fixing the broken immigration system so that it is
fairer and helps grow the middle class by ensuring everyone plays
by the same rules. A number of immigration leaders across the
nation released statements commending the President. Click above to
read their remarks.
State and Local Officials Across the Country Urge
Action to Fix the Nation's Broken Immigration System
Following President Obama's speech last Tuesday in Las Vegas,
bipartisan state and local elected officials across the country
spoke out about the President's remarks and urged swift action.
Their statements are posted in the link above.
Faith Leaders Welcome President Obama's
Proposal for Common Sense Immigration Reform
In response to the President's remarks, a number of faith
organizations across the nation issued statements applauding the
President for his moral leadership in affirming our heritage as a
nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. A few of those
statements are posted in the link above.
AAPI Community Welcomes President Obama's
Proposal for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Last Tuesday, President Obama traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to
speak about the need to fix the nation's broken immigration
system and his commonsense reform proposal. In response to the
President's remarks, a number of organizations that advocate
for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across
the nation issued statements applauding the President for his
leadership. Click the blog link above to read their statements.
Labor Leaders Welcome President Obama's
Proposal for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
In response to the President's remarks last week, a number of
organizations that advocate for working people across the nation
issued statements applauding the President for his leadership. To
read some of their statements, click the above link.
Business Leaders Welcome President Obama's
Proposal for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Last week, a number of business leaders across the nation issued
statements applauding the President for his leadership in
advocating for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Here are a few of
those statements.
LGBT Advocates Welcome President Obama's
Proposal for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Earlier last week, President Barack Obama delivered remarks in Las
Vegas about creating a fair and effective immigration system that
lives up to our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of
immigrants. In response to the President's proposal, a number
of organizations that advocate for LGBT rights issued statements
praising the President's leadership and calling for
comprehensive immigration reform. To read their statements, click
the above link.
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