Reform

Mexican diplomat: Immigration reform will be a very important step

Agencia EFE — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:32:05 +0000

Agencia EFE

Chicago, Jun 17 (EFE).- Mexico's new consul general in Chicago said Monday that U.S. immigration reform is possible as a result of the new vision imposed by globalization, but he warned that, as in any negotiation, "nobody's going to win everything."

"I think that it will be a very important step for undocumented immigrants in all countries, and if not exactly everything that the law requires is achieved, the rest will be the issue of a new struggle," Carlos Martin Jimenez Macias said in an interview with Efe.

Obama: Congress needs to pass immigration reform this summer

Agencia EFE — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:30:20 +0000

Agencia EFE

Washington, Jun 11 (EFE).- President Barack Obama said Tuesday that nothing is stopping the U.S. Congress from passing immigration reform before the end of summer, though he warned that opponents of the bipartisan bill now before the Senate will try to "gin up fear and create division."

"To truly deal with this issue Congress needs to act. And that moment is now," he said during an event at the White House with officials, labor and business leaders and other supporters of the Senate bill.

Obama urges Senate to pass immigration overhaul bill

Agence France-Presse — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 12:23:19 +0000

Agence France-Presse

US President Barack Obama on Saturday urged lawmakers to pass an immigration overhaul bill that the Senate is due to debate this week, saying that it was "commonsense" though not perfect.

"For years, our out-of-date immigration system has actually harmed our economy and threatened our security," Obama said in his weekly radio and television address.

"The bill before the Senate isn't perfect. It's a compromise. Nobody will get everything they want -- not Democrats, not Republicans, not me," he conceded.

Senate panel approves immigration reform

Agencia EFE — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:31:37 +0000

Agencia EFE

Washington, May 22 (EFE).- Immigration reform that plans to legalize some 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States passed its first test as the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-5 to approve a bipartisan bill to overhaul the system.

The draft prepared by the "Gang of Eight" Republican and Democratic senators will next go to the full Senate for debate.

President Barack Obama congratulated the Judiciary Committee and hailed the "leadership" of its chairman, Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy.

Mixed reaction in Chicago over advance of immigration reform

Agencia EFE — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:31:52 +0000

Agencia EFE

Chicago, May 22 (EFE).- Hispanic activists here on Wednesday had mixed reactions to the Senate Judiciary Committee's approval of the immigration reform bill that includes a route to legalization for the more than 11 million undocumented foreigners living in this country.

While some reacted with joy and hope, others expressed reservations and criticism.

Monica Treviño, the spokesperson for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said that the group is pleased by Tuesday's Senate committee vote.

Immigration debate gives life to annual May Day rallies, shows allure of street demonstrations

The Canadian Press — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:45:28 +0000

The Canadian Press

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Demonstrators demanded an overhaul of immigration laws Wednesday in an annual, nationwide ritual that carried a special sense of urgency as Congress considers sweeping legislation that would bring many of the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally out of the shadows.

Mexico postpones financial reform presentation in political row

Thomson Reuters — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:30:24 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By David Alire Garcia and Dave Graham

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has suspended plans to present a new banking sector reform due to disagreements among the main political parties, raising doubts over his wider reform agenda eagerly watched by investors.

US senators close to immigration deal

Agence France-Presse — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:30:44 +0000

Agence France-Presse

A bipartisan group of US senators is very close to reaching a deal on immigration reform and a bill could be introduced in Congress within days, sources said.

The reform, a key focus of President Barack Obama's second term, could contain a long-term path to citizenship for the country's more than 11 million illegal immigrants, as well as an expansion of quotas of foreign workers and tighter border security.

"We are optimistic that we will be able to introduce legislation soon," a Senate aide told AFP.

MHC calls for legalization and full rights for Filipino immigrants in the US

Asianet — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:46:44 +0000

Asianet

The Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), a Filipino-run non-government organization in the United States, has joined the call asking the US Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform law that would give the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the US a clear pathway to citizenship.

Ms.

Obama more optimistic on immigration than gun control

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:45:44 +0000

Agence France-Presse

US President Barack Obama said Thursday he was more upbeat about the prospects of immigration reform making it through Congress than tougher gun control legislation.

"I am very optimistic that we get immigration reform done in the next few months," Obama told Democratic donors at an event in Atherton, California, a Silicon Valley town south of San Francisco.

"And the reason I'm optimistic is because people spoke out through the ballot box, and that's breaking gridlock," added Obama, who seized 70 percent of the country's Latino vote when he was re-elected last November.

White House insists Obama wants immigration reform

Agencia EFE — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:31:07 +0000

Agencia EFE

Washington, Mar 25 (EFE).- The White House on Monday rejected the recent accusations by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz that President Barack Obama is really looking for immigration reform to fail and for that situation to become a Democratic campaign weapon in 2014 and 2016.

"There's no evidence to support those claims," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

"What the President has been saying for quite some time now is that he believes that comprehensive immigration reform is in the best interest of the economy of the United States of America," Earnest told reporters.

'Time has come' for immigration reform: Obama

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:01:52 +0000

Agence France-Presse

US President Barack Obama said Monday the time has come to reform America's "broken" immigration policy, renewing his appeal to lawmakers to clinch a deal that he said is now within reach.

At a swearing-in ceremony at the White House for a group of new US citizens, Obama praised a bipartisan push in Congress for immigration reform, but prodded both parties to finish the job.

"We've known for years our immigration system is broken, that we're not doing enough to harness the talent and ingenuity of those that want to work hard and find a place here in America," Obama said.

Obama asks prayers for immigration reform

Agencia EFE — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 23:31:06 +0000

Agencia EFE

Washington, Mar 8 (EFE).- President Barack Obama asked leaders of faith communities from around the country to say prayers so that Congress will pass comprehensive immigration reform this year, participants said after a closed-door meeting at the White House.

"We started off the meeting praying for the president and for immigrants, and when we were finished, he (Obama) asked us if there would be another prayer. We offered up another prayer seeking wisdom for both the president and members of Congress," Bishop Minerva Carcaño of the United Methodist Church told the press.

UPDATE 1-White House drafts backup immigration plan, Republicans balk

Thomson Reuters — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:16:19 +0000

Thomson Reuters

(Recasts, adds details from talk shows, White House response)

By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The White House is drafting a backup immigration reform plan in case a bipartisan congressional committee working on a bill fails, an Obama Administration official said on Sunday, though a key Republican said the president's plan would be "dead on arrival" on Capitol Hill.

Obama, aides seek momentum on immigration reform this week

Thomson Reuters — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:00:46 +0000

Thomson Reuters

* Obama to tout economic benefits of reform to CEOs, unions

* Republicans soften stance, citizenship remains big hurdle

* House panel to take up immigration on Tuesday

By Matt Spetalnick and Richard Cowan