Obama Pledges Continued Support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Despite no significant legislative advances concerning immigration during his first two years in office, and an upcoming legislative session with a Republican majority in the House and increased Republican presence in the Senate, President Obama told the Congressional Hispanic Caucus that he will continue to push for comprehensive immigration reform in 2011, reports Politico. Though the gesture was welcomed by caucus members, it remains uncertain whether Obama will find similar support in his own party given that many new, incoming legislators are veering to the right politically and pushing for more typically conservative initiatives like increased border control and enforcement. The President’s pledge came shortly after the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act), which would have provided six years of conditional permanent residency to certain undocumented minors who have completed high school and then join the military or attend college for at least two years, failed to garner sufficient Senate votes to overcome a Republican filibuster.

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