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Quote of the Day: Obama on Immigration Reform

5:29 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · California|Immigration

19 Mar 2009

President Obama was in Costa Mesa, California, yesterday to hold a “town hall” meeting and he finally brought up the hot-button topic of immigration, and more specifically, immigration reform. The speech was vague and lacking content, as was to be expected, but here’s the most salient part:

“You’ve got to say to the undocumented workers… ‘Look, you’ve broken the law. You didn’t come here the way you were supposed to. So this is not going to be a free ride … What’s going to happen is you’re going to pay a significant fine.’

“‘You are going to learn english. You are going to… go to the back of the line so you don’t get ahead of somebody who was in Mexico City applying legally.’”

“‘But after you’ve done these things over a certain period of time, you can earn your citizenship. So that it’s not — it’s not something that is guaranteed or automatic. You’ve got to earn it.’ But over time, you get people an opportunity.”

How do you interpret this? How will this rhetoric translate into real policy?

Via / SGGP

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20 Responses to Quote of the Day: Obama on Immigration Reform

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Jennifer

March 19th, 2009 at 7:51 am

What I don’t get is this “must learn” English talk. I mean, why is this a requirement all of a sudden for immigrants? What’s the purpose and how does this help solve the issue or how does it qualify someone to earn a green card or ability to work legally in the US? Now, if the person wanted to actually apply for citizenship, maybe they have to have basics down?

And no way is this speech a look into what could be the talk of someone preparing to set up policy on immigration – very vague.

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March 19th, 2009 at 9:19 am

It’s all just a polital tool to keep people thinkng that immigration issues matter to him, or our government in general, when they don’t really care. Why are the only immigrants coming “from Mexico City applying legally”? Doesn’t anybody acknowledge that there are tons of people from other countries here without proper documents? And all those rules…fines, english, wait, wait wait…that’s our current policy isn’t it?

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Joselito

March 19th, 2009 at 9:26 am

Looks like a George Bush speech on inmigration. nothing new, president Obama doen’t sound like he is going to do domething for the undocumented most likely congress has to act on it.

I wonder why inmigrants who enter the country legaly are not required to learn english.

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Ivan

March 19th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

The President must act! A comprehensive immigration reform with path to citizenship must occur THIS YEAR. Enough with the hatred and racism from Billy Bob(Lou Dobbs, Senator Sessions of Alabama, and other sad excuses for a human being).
Pass the reform this year!!!

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Jorge

March 19th, 2009 at 4:53 pm

Unfortunately, the President’s statements lacked substance. Just the same old rhetoric…I really hope that he acts in a progressive manner on this issue. I am a bit bothered by his comment that some people are applying legally in “Mexico City”. Ummmmm Mr. President, Thanks for make this issue a Mexican/Latino issue again. Mexicans and Latinos should not be made the sole face of this topic. I live in NYC and have met some undocumented folks…yes some are Mexican and some are Israeli, Polish, Czech, Russian etc etc etc..folks who willingly overstay their visas. Glad as a Mexican..here legally we get singled out again for a flawed national immigration policy!

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Oscar Terriquez

March 19th, 2009 at 5:54 pm

I think it is a good idea that the president should give comprehensive reform to those who are here and for those who came illegaly.I also think that it would be also a good idea to give amnesty that way those who are been here in the US for a long time should be
able to give back to the economy.I totally agree with him when he said that we are a country of Immigrants.So are we to discriminate just because we have been given the opportunity to be born here.Than those who are less fortunate than us.

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Leopold Caudillo

March 19th, 2009 at 7:08 pm

We really need to crack down on illegal immigration. I’m a 38 year old hispanic male and its really a problem in Los Angeles. Its such a problem that people from other countries that apply for Visa’s can’t get them due to so much illegal immigration. They event can’t get tourist Visa’s. Tourism brings money. I am in Europe one a month for over 5 years and they have a much better controls on immigration.

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Veeve Dushenta

March 20th, 2009 at 12:25 am

IMMIGRATION REFORM? YES, the time is pretty overdue, but the best wine stay for the last drink. I think this reform will be the best in Immigration history if they rule against, “… wait at the back of the line …” and admit that documented or undocumented, workers in the U. S. are the ones working hard over the years to put the country forward and setting the pace for others to enter and reap the fruits of the hard labor; and thus, deserve better reward than “… the back of the line ….” Remember, undocumented is contributing a lot to the development of the country long before the the outsider who is only waiting in line for the visa to come in and reap the sweet of the labor. Those who are here toiling hard and doing most of the menial jobs in this country are worth more than “…the back of the line….” A Blessing for the lawmakers while you think this over.

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Alessandro Piovezahn

March 20th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

Come on; give the “new President” a break. The guy have so much in his plate right now that people instead of waiting for more concrete and objective plans are criticizing everything. What is the problem with Mexico City? Should he be mentioning all the countries where people are waiting and applying for their papers? I have friends here waiting for 14 years for their papers and they are from Brazil. I think that people should stop generalizing everything and look at the broader picture. Give the President some space to do his job. Let’s contribute in a positive and constructive way, hate and unconstructive criticism don’t help.

Legalizing 12 million immigrants will generate 60 Billion dollars and extra taxes and I’m sure the president knows that.

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Jennifer

March 20th, 2009 at 1:24 pm

The president does have a lot on his plate, however, he has an adminstration that can help draft policy, no?

I think the debate on this post has been healthy and need for reform has been a long time coming, hence the sense of urgency.

Jorge, agree that using Mexico City was not a great example because yes, there are plenty of non-Hispanics in the US without documentation. Small mistake. At least he didn’t mix this issue up with “Special Olympics.”

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Boster

March 24th, 2009 at 11:18 pm

Like if theyre gonna do something
they just talk over and over the same stuff everytime but they dont do shiit.
So lets keep this the same way its always been like..
lets take workerss back to their country and keep sending their family members away from them just because they were working
or even if they just get a ticket for some civil infraction
lest ask for their status and treat them like criminals and send them all back just for that..
this country is made of some really stupid fuckin shitty laws
that doesnt even make sence sometimes
they take the good people instead of be taking the criminals…
And Students who are graduated from high school cant go to college or some university, dont matter to them if theyre smart or dumb,
thats why even crackheads can go to college or join the military in this country but not the smart or good students that came here looking for a better way to live.
Now in days illegal immigrants cant even apply to get a drivers license or get ID’s..
now wtf is that? i swear they been on some real stupid fuck shiit
even those who already got their Id’s or Drivers License cant apply to renew theirs.
This country has some real stupid people running the government by approving all these kinds of things.
why cant an immigrant get a drivers license like anyone else who just wants to go to work driving their own cars or go buy some food to feed their kids.
now i dont even wanna talk about ID’s.
Without immigrants this country aint shiit

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jvilla

March 24th, 2009 at 11:50 pm

the unemployment is in some places 10% why do we need to legalize 20 million illegals that most of them are on food stamps, wic, medicaid, we educate all 5 or more of their children! we cant afford to keep this people on public service for the rest of their lives and then you want to legalize. they will bring another 20 million that will also be on food stamps, wic and medicaid and oh yes they will all drop an anchor baby as soon as they can. how is that going to help our falling economy. surely we are not that stupid

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Maegan La Mala

March 25th, 2009 at 7:09 am

I’m feeling generous today and am replying instead of deleting this comment. Consider it your PSA of the day. Undocumented immigrants cannot get public assistance.
Thank you and have a nice day.

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MCon

March 25th, 2009 at 1:02 pm

Illegal immigrants are one of the reasons why hardworking americans cant support their families and being laid off. Take a painter, landscaper, contractor, the list goes on and on. In times like these, who is going to hire an american citizen when for only 5 an hour can hire an illigal immigrant. I see it all the time where illigal immigrants are taking money out of america’s hands by standing at home depot waiting to be picked up for cheap labor. ANd why not work for cheap wages since they live in an apartment with 5 or 6 other illigal immigrants and dont pay taxes. We are the ones paying taxes.

Im am NOT a racisit, Im an american citizen watching our economy fall. Anyone who wants to become an american citizen must go through the proper steps and wait like many did in the past. Anyone who broke the law comming in should be sent back or put in jail ( Jail? Why ? So we can pay our taxes to feed them? ) They should not be rewarded with the chance to become a citizen. I dont blame them for coming over illigally because we do nothing about it. We are a joke.

I love this country but hate the people who run it. Talk, talk, talk. Its like every president talks about what they are going to do until their term is up. No action. To all the readers, Ill leave you with this.

There is nothing one man can do. So just sit back and enjoy the ride.

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la Macha

March 25th, 2009 at 1:28 pm

blah blah blah blah.
can somebody who hates the illegalz *PUHLEEZE* come up with something new to say?

You’re boring me.

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MCon

March 26th, 2009 at 6:04 am

Hate is a strong word. Its not about hate. Its about whats right and whats wrong. This string is about the speech on illigal immigrants. Maybe you are on the wrong page. Or would you rathing it be said that we should take down boarder security and let everyone in.

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Maegan la Mala

March 26th, 2009 at 6:36 am

See here is where your are wrong. When you use an adjective that means against the law, illegal, with a noun, immigrant, you are already setting the stage. A person’s existence is not illegal. They may not have papers pero they are not illegal

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MCon

March 26th, 2009 at 10:15 am

I agree. A persons existence is not illegal. But there are laws. I didnt make them. So with that said. If someone is in the country, ANY RACE, without proper documentations, they are illegal to be here. If anyone wants to be a citizen do it the right way period. Its only helping them. If they are here illegally, they arent even making minimum wages. People who came here the right way can support a family. And again, Im not talking about Mexico, Im talking about everywhere so dont think your race is being singled out. Bottom line; if your a citizen, you deserve to make a living here. If you arent, you dont deserve to be here.

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Celia

April 10th, 2009 at 3:54 pm

MCon, not all 11 million illegal immigrants have no job or lower paid jobs. And not all of them are not paying taxes. On the contrary, basing from my experience as a tax preparer, I get a lot of undocumented immigrant clients that are paying taxes more than the native born and the legal immigrants. I know a lot legal immigrants petitioned by their children who come here when they’re already senior citizens who get government benefits and have not even worked here from the time they have arrived. I also know a lot of undocumented immigrants who came here legally and who are highly educated, speak very good english, send their kids to private schools, put up a business and give jobs to citizens and permanent residents. They tried to go the legal process but because of the broken immigration system in force now, they become illegal due to to slow action of the USCIS on their petitions hence overstay their authorized stay. Please get your facts straight. And one question, where do the SS benefit go which these people paid for?

Hola!

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