WASHINGTON — President Obama will deliver a well-telegraphed speech on America’s broken immigration system today, in which he will lay out his support for a comprehensive approach to reform: not just enhanced border security, but also accountability for employers and a pathway to legalized status forimmigrants already in the country.
Mr. Obama already devoted some time to the issue earlier this week, first in a meeting Monday with activists and then another meeting Tuesday with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. But the White House has made clear that the speech will not propose a timetable for action. Translation: Don’t count on seeing Congress take up legislation by the end of the year. Advocates for comprehensive reform are already disappointed by Obama, who had promised during his presidential campaign that he would take action in 2009. So doesn’t Obama risk further disappointment with more talk?
Perhaps, analysts say, but Obama can still advance the conversation.
“He can talk about what he’s already done at the border … and then promise to continue to put pressure on Congress,” says Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
The speech will take place at 10:45 a.m. Eastern at American University in Washington.
In laying the groundwork for the speech, White House spokesmen have stressed the responsibilities faced by all stakeholders in the issue.
“Most specifically, [Obama] thinks this debate is about accountability – accountability for securing the border, accountability for employers who are hiring illegal immigrants, and accountability for those who are in this country illegally,” deputy press secretary Bill Burton said Wednesday.
Obama also appears set to place blame on Republican legislators, many of whom have supported comprehensive reform in the past but have pulled away.
“Only with Republican support can we move forward on immigration,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday.
As the November midterm elections draw near, Obama has turned up the heat on Republicans on other issues, including the economy and energy reform. After his meeting Monday with advocates of comprehensive immigration reform – many of them Hispanic – some came away expressing frustration toward GOP unwillingness to work with Democrats on the issue. The lead Republican on comprehensive immigration reform, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) of South Carolina, backed away from the issue in April after Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada announced he wanted to put immigration reform ahead of energy reform on the Senate agenda.
Obama has since reached out to a half-dozen Republican senators to try to spur bipartisan action, but found no takers. Another onetime stalwart for comprehensive reform, Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona, has also taken a harder line in the face of a tough primary challenge that threatens his reelection.
