US Immigration Overhaul "Essential"

Filed in archive Americas on June 21, 2009

© jurvetson

The Obama Administration made it clear this week that overhauling the immigration system in the U.S. is a priority for his administration.

Obama told the Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference that U.S. borders must be strengthened to thwart illegal immigration. But he also supports giving the millions of people now in the U.S. illegally the chance to become citizens.

In many ways, now is a good time to acomplish something on the immigration issue precisely because it is not much of an issue, politically, at the moment. With healthcare, swine flu, Iran, and so many other things taking up the media spotlight, immigration reform might actually get some legislative work done on it without the myopia that comes from being the center of public attention.