President Obama reportedly has held a second meeting in Washington to discuss immigration reform. Thursday the president met with a number of celebrities and members of Hispanic media programs. A dozen people were invited to the meeting in the White House Roosevelt Room.
The one-hour meeting reportedly focused primarily on issues related to U.S. permanent residency and pathways to citizenship. Participants in the meeting say the president again expressed his desire for immigration reform, including a continued intent to seek passage of the DREAM Act. The Act, which failed in Congress last year, would provide children of undocumented immigrants a pathway to legal status based upon serving in the U.S. military of seeking a college degree.
In addition to issues of citizenship, the topic of deportation reportedly was raised during the meeting. The Obama Administration has set record numbers for deportation in each of the last two years. The president reportedly did not indicate that he will back down on deportation and removal proceedings under the current law.
The president is scheduled to address the Miami Dade College commencement ceremony today. The college reports that roughly 69 percent of the student body is Hispanic.
The two recent immigration reform meetings at the White House coincide with the president’s reelection campaign bid. States such as Florida play a big role in the reelection campaign according to experts. Florida, Nevada, Colorado, and to a growing extent, Texas have large Hispanic populations that many consider to be key states in the president’s campaign bid.
Some polls indicate a drop in Hispanic support for the president has followed a lack of movement in immigration reform during his first two years in office.
Source: The Washington Post, “Obama sits down with Eva Longoria and other Latinos to discuss immigration,” Perry bacon Jr. 28 Apr 2011
