President Pushes Immigration Reform
Senate leader plans to push reform to top of agenda.
Compiled by staff
Published: Apr 26, 2010
When President Obama urged Congress on Friday to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, he said inaction would lead to misguided efforts and irresponsibility by others. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is also pushing for action. He's vaulted the issue to the top of Congress's spring agenda, saying the Senate could take up immigration legislation before it considers an energy bill.
Senators John McCain, R-Ariz., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., have threatened to filibuster any immigration legislation that does not secure borders first. If the Senate acts, supporters of immigration reform in the House say they are confident they could muster the votes to pass a bill this year. According to House aides, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has agreed to hold a House vote on immigration before the congressional elections in November.
The President also criticized a measure passed by the Arizona state legislature and signed by Governor Jan Brewer that allows local police to question people on suspicion of being in the country illegally. Obama said the measure threatened to undermine basic notions of fairness, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping people safe.
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