President Mentions Immigration Reform in State of the Union Address, But Just Barely
Pres. Obama gives his State of the Union address. flanked by Vicepresident Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Photo: WhiteHouse.gov)
Here is what President Barack Obama had to say about immigration reform in his first State of the Union address. The mention was so brief that we quote it here in its entirety:
We should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system — to secure our borders, enforce our laws and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nations.
The very next sentence contained the only direct mention of immigrants in Obama’s speech:
In the end, it is our ideals, our values, that built America — values that allowed us to forge a nation made up of immigrants from every corner of the globe, values that drive our citizens still.
The two sentences came at a key point in the address, the moment of transition from the agenda portion of the speech to the sweeping close that focused on values. Immigration reform was the very last issue Obama mentioned in remarks that took on a wide range of pressing problems including job creation, health care reform, corporate and government responsibility, the need for bipartisanship in Washington, alternative energy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and many others.
The sentence that followed, about immigrants and values, was the opening image in the final section of the speech in which Mr. Obama reaffirmed the “spirit of determination and optimism — that fundamental decency that has always been at the core of the American people.”
Immigrant advocates are probably disappointed. The brevity and lack of specificity of the president’s remarks, along with his placement of the issue at the end of a very long list of priorities, seem to reinforce the widely held belief that immigration reform is on the administration’s back burner. Those who claim undocumented immigrants are stealing jobs from American citizens can’t be too happy either. Yes, Obama talked about securing borders and enforcing laws. But he also affirmed the idea of letting “everyone who plays by the rules” contribute to the U.S. economy.
Perhaps the most notable thing about this brief passage in the speech is that Obama actually talked about immigration reform at all. It’s a subject that he has, until now, largely managed to avoid in big national speeches like his inaugural address one year ago. Instead the president has mainly allowed others, including members of his Cabinet, to present the administration’s position on this touchy subject.
Just one day before the president’s speech, Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano gave a preview of the administration’s priorities at a press conference at DHS headquarters in Washington, D.C. and on the White House website’s “The President’s Cabinet reporting to you” feature, which you can watch below.
The security publication HS Today reported,
“Napolitano also promised that the administration had not forgotten about immigration reform. Changes to US immigration law are necessary to ensure ‘effective national security’ by bringing illegal immigrants out of the shadows, the secretary said.
“As such, the department is continuing to work with Congress to introduce bills that would enact comprehensive immigration reform this year.”
And what about Obama’s use of immigrants to open the values section of his speech? It seems that while the plight of some 12 million undocumented migrants in the U.S. is still too hot to handle, immigrants — as an idea — have a secure spot in the pantheon of inspirational political icons, along with mothers, soldiers and firefighters.
It’s as if the president was saying to immigrants in his address, “I haven’t forgotten about you, but I really can’t do much for you right now.” The failure to pass a health care bill has shown that Mr. Obama’s hands-off approach has not been effective. Now, with immigration policy, the administration appears to be going down a similar path and perhaps heading the country to another frustrating stalemate.
I don’t understand why anyone would even want to be where they are not wanted. But what I do not understand the most is why the majority of illegals do not just come here legally in the first place. Having people come here illegally and then steal jobs from the citizens and then expect the citizens to pay for their everything is pissing a lot of Americans off and the majority of Americans will ban together to fight to the death any proposed reform that will reward this behavior. People who enter America illegally and demand that we change our own laws should be prepared for things to get downright ugly when and if immigration reform ever gets to the forefront.
A comprehensive immigration reform is a matter of when, not if. No human being is illegal: angry old white males cannot stop progress forever. Billy Bob is on the wrong side of both history and demographics, he just doesn’t know it yet…Obama must keep his promise to push for a just and long overdue immigration bill. The bill must be passed in his first term as President.
I think the immigration reform will come at some point, I want to see it done but to be realistic it won’t happen with the unemployment at current levels. He was very stupid starting with health care. At least now he’s in the right track. Jobs first. Once the unemployment comes down, his rating will go up and hopefully it will happen before november so the democrats won’t loose seats. If all this happens the immigration reform will be a breeze.
“and the majority of Americans will ban together to fight to the death any proposed reform that will reward this behavior” – wake up!! the majority of the americans do not give a crap about immigration, it is just a loud ignorant minority, go stick to your guns and religion.
i wish that many people, such as the illegal reporter would understand how, and why illegal immigrants come here to this country in such a manner. in most cases the people did not have any other choice. you can say it is just another sob story and disregard it but this is ignorance. people are poor and starving, and that is just the bottom line, and no wall or deportation is going to stop this. it is not that these people have no respect for immigration law, and the laws of out country, but in fact it is the revers, immigration law blatantly disregards them. the type of people who immigrate, and lets just assume they come form mexico, are very poor. most of the people who are crossing the border who are mexican come out of very rural, poor areas such as Oxaca. 50% of mexican population lives off of less than 2 dollars a day, and this just shows the drastically uneven wealth distribution. so how do u expect someone coming from such a place to one. even be aware of immigration laws, 2. have the money to apply legally, and 3. even be accepted through our current system which prioritizes highly skilled workers who are related to US citizens or have an employer petitioning for them. do you see the problem??
if we only just allowed the type of people who end up immigrating illegally in through some different type of channel (like expanding the H2-A program) or creating an entirely new one, then we would not have the same degree of illegal immigration that we have experienced for decades.
The reason that people immigrate to the US is because of the US itself! Its foreign policies, tough international commerce plans, and trying to fix politics everywhere in the world is causing people around the world to go West!
People around the world are not too stupid to notice that the US is the strongest and most powerful nation on Earth and that America continues to fight the entire world to provide a better life for its citizens!
About why people choose the illegal path has a very simple answer. It is because the immigration system in the US is BROKEN! You go to 3rd world nations and try to apply for immigration to America and you have %0.001 chance of approval!
People in this country have to understand the roots of the immigration problem before saying that immigrants are stealing their jobs. They are stealing the jobs that they have lost at their home countries because of an irresponsible American foreign policies.
Have you ever imagive if your children left befind 1000 mile away waiting for your money to make them survive? They just can’t wait and might not be able to find a way. They work in the jobs that you’ve never know if that jobs exist in your country. Are they stealing your job?
January 2008 = Start of Deportation Program.
January 2008 = Start of worst Recession in U.S. History?
“The proof is in the pudding”
Coincidence, or Karma?
To: Good and Brotherhood.
Perhaps we should crunch some numbers. For instance these: If undocumented aliens are fined for their violation of immigration laws just as us citizens pay fines for speeding or any other violation, (because if we didn’t WE would be the same—criminals ) it is no longer amnesty. if the 15 million or so paid $2000 each in fines (along with other stipulations such as learnibg English and paying back taxes) the result would be considerably over 30 billion which is roughly enough money to send half a million American kids to college. Since they are probably working, off the books most likely, additional taxes would also be gained. On top of that, there is the family unity issue tied into immigration. Why should an American citizen spend money in a foreign country to support a spouse or family when he could spend it all here in the US? Family unity would result in billions more dollars being spent in the US where it belongs. Perhaps that is why people like Lou Dobbs are taking a second look at immigration reform.
Lastly there are humanitarian concerns. In a country that denies support and puts pressure on foreign administrations that fail in this area it is a sad commentary we are not doing it ourselves. To coin a phrase by Sen.John McCaine concerning undocumented individuals, “they are God’s children also”. We would never be the great country we are now if the obstructions to progress were as powerful in the past as they are today.
Wow I have never read so many misinformed comments about illegal immigration in one place. You guys really need to do a bit of research.
First the American public some 70% by most polls do not favor rewarding illegal aliens with an amnesty. Most understand that paying a penalty is the same as buying the privilege of breaking the law. Would you allow a car jacker to keep the car he jacked as long as he paid a fine? And what about all those people who followed the rules and are immigrating legally? Are you going to throw them under the bus by allowing illegal aliens to cut into the line?
Amnesty and that is what CIR is, was tried in 1986 and it failed. In 2007 the people of this country rejected it and the number of people against it has grown. CIR is dead, regardless of how much you want it. Politicians know that they will pay the price for supporting it again.
Rayjay & Almed – Over 50% of all illegal aliens in this country are from Mexico. According to a study by the Pew Hispanic center, most illegals from that country had a job before coming to the US. Mexico is not a poor country by international standards. It is ranked 12th. Mexican people are not starving. Has any one seen any pics of peoples from Mexico and south looking emaciated?
Are the illegal alien Hispanics more deserving then the much poorer people from other parts of the world? There are places in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, where people really are starving. Millions of people across the planet would like to immigrate to the US. Because a group of people illegally crossed the border, does that mean they should get preference! Besides isn’t it racist to put one group, race or ethnicity ahead of others?
Free thinker, you need to understand the dynamics of illegal immigration and how the system is functioning. First what makes anyone come to this country? For a small percentage it may be freedom, but for the majority it is economics. They can make more money here with the added benefit of social services. Now if you are an illegal, getting paid in cash, not having any civic responsibilities, why would you want to become legal? Remittances to other countries are possible because illegal aliens are able to game the system. If an illegal alien has an American born child and they show no or little income, that child becomes an economic asset..The child entitles the family to a whole host of social services. Now if that person becomes legal, depending on whether they are still working for cash and how much they earn, they will either lose those entitlements or become eligible for more. If they become legal, they then can legally immigrate their families. Now that in itself would be a good thing if the number was limited and they were economically responsible for those newly arrived family members. But currently the system does not enforce economical responsibility. Those family members could then also use the system and in turn immigrate more family. Immigration today is not like the great wave of the late 1800s, early 1900s. Back then you either made it, starved or returned to your home country.
The ability to pay taxes is based on income. Income is generally based on education. Most illegals in this country have not a high school education. Lower income citizens pay little if any income tax and regardless of status, most low income people use more resources then they contribute to. Immigrants as a whole send a huge amount of money out of this country (gaming the system). While bringing those foreign family members into this country might sound good, what makes up for the difference in cost of living? 500 dollars goes much further in Mexico or South America. Would that 500 bucks support a family in this country for a month? No, so what does the family do? They apply for social services.
The recent ethnically tainted studies indicating that CIR and immigrant growth would stimulate the economy are misleading. The two most recent assume that new immigrants will move up the economic ladder pay more taxes, buy more goods and start more businesses. The question remains is how this will come about? Who will train them, educate them and at what cost? Who will fund their business endeavors? What happens to the previous employed citizens who were displaced? Did they suddenly vanish?
How many people should this country have? How many people can this country support? Those are the real questions that none who support CIR care to talk about. At current rates the population of this country is projected to add 140 million in the next 30-40 years. Population growth is driven by immigration – immigrants and their children. For every new person added to the population it takes 12 acres of undeveloped land to be developed. Added population takes resources we need for future generations. While it is admirable to want to help our fellow human beings, it is not possible to do so by importing them to this country. If the US fails because of population growth, who will then take up the humanitarian cause?
What is with the “no human is illegal” bumper sticker slogan? Illegal is just an adjective to describe their residency status. Of course some humans are illegal. Burglars are “illegal” trespassers. Foreign nationals in the country in violation of our laws prohibiting them being here are obviously “illegal” immigrants.
They certainly are not “undocumented”. Illegal aliens have all sorts of documentation, from state governments, from their home countries, and fraudulent, forged and stolen documents with which they use to get jobs illegally.
Bradwig: Your numbers are skewed. Mexico is number 23 just ahead of Romania and the Philipines. Perhaps your other info also?