Obama's Proposal Sparks Immigration Debate
Posted at 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 30
President Obama embraced the bipartisan Senate deal on immigration reform, reports the New York Times, but he also made clear that his proposal differs on a few key elements, setting the stage for the coming debate.
“He said, for example, that there must be a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants ‘from the outset,’ a statement that would seem at odds with the assertion by some senators that citizenship must be tied to tighter border security.”
“Although Mr. Obama did not say it in his speech, the White House is also proposing that the United States treat same-sex couples the same as other families, meaning that people would be able to use their relationship as a basis to obtain a visa.”
Washington Post: “The president — who has said that not passing an overhaul in his first term was his biggest failure — also suggested he has little patience for Congress and would demand that lawmakers vote on his more permissive plan if they do not swiftly pass their own.”
