THE GUARDIAN: White House set to take on Republicans and union-backed Democrats to create 'orderly' immigration system
Barack Obama plans to grant citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants in an overhaul of US immigration policy, trying to succeed where George Bush failed, according to a report today.
The US president will broach the contentious issue next month, bringing congressional Democrats and Republicans together over the summer to discuss possible legislation for the autumn, the New York Times reported.
Obama will present his drive as "policy reform that controls immigration and makes it an orderly system", the paper quoted Cecilia Munoz, deputy assistant to the president and director of intergovernmental affairs in the White House, as saying. Obama has identified energy and healthcare reform as his legislative priorities.
The timetable for immigration reform backs pledges made to Hispanic groups in the presidential campaign that immigration reform, including a plan to make legal status possible for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, would be a priority in his first year. Hispanic voters turned out strongly for Obama at the election. Storm Brews as Barack Obama Embarks on Pledge to Grant Citizenship to Illegal Immigrants >>> Mark Tran | Thursday, April 9, 2009
