In a statement today, President Obama called for Congress to leave politics behind and work to pass comprehensive immigration reform. On the heels of the end of the Government shutdown and debt ceiling deal, President Obama appeared at the White House and made a statement to the American people.
The President pointed out that politics was the cause of the shutdown and that it was needless. The President also stated specific goals that he said Congress should focus on in a bipartisan manner to achieve. These items are budget issues, a farm bill, and comprehensive immigration reform.
As President Obama pointed out, the Senate has already passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill and he invited the House of Representatives to act on it or, at a minimum, propose their own amendments or their own bill so negotiations can begin. The President wants to have a meaningful immigration reform bill passed before the end of this calendar year.
An immigration bill would benefit the millions of undocumented immigrants currently facing removal proceedings a chance to gain legal status. As President Obama pointed out in his statement today, passing a comprehensive immigration bill would benefit the United States economy as well.
Let’s hope Congress can put aside partisan politics and negotiate in good faith to pass a meaningful immigration bill.