Obama calls on Congress to resurrect Dream Act

Despite entrenched opposition in Congress to immigration reform, President Obama in the State of the Union speech asked both chambers to resurrect the Dream Act, a bill that would create a path to citizenship for young illegal immigrants who are college students and military service members.

He also encouraged lawmakers to increase the number of visas for highly skilled immigrants, many of whom complete graduate degrees in the U.S. but are not authorized to work here. The U.S. currently awards about 140,000 highly skilled visas per year.

“If election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let’s at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses, and defend this country,” said Obama.

Obama touted the fact that his administration has hired more Border Patrol agents and that the number of illegal crossings has declined since he took office.

“The opponents of action are out of excuses,” he said.

Obama’s remarks closely mirrored his call for immigration reform in the State of the Union speech last year. That speech came just weeks after the Dream Act had passed the Democratic-controlled House in December 2010, but failed to win enough votes in the Senate.

Over the past year, anti-immigrant fervor has hardened in the face of persistently high unemployment and unabated drug violence south of the U.S. border in Mexico.

The Dream Act would have applied to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. before the age of 16 and have lived in the country for at least five years. After 10 years, about 1.2 million immigrants would likely take advantage of the program, according to estimates.


http://www.latimes.com/news/politics...+-+Politics%29

He is our only chance guys, I don't care if he uses the issue as political pandering, we still have a shot. Nonetheless, to have a republican in office is too damn dangerous. At least with Obama we can live "normally" (sort of).

We have heard this before. (yawnnnn)

Last night felt like he was blaming congress for his own incompetences.

Yep, He has said it before. Has it been resurrected yet? No. Therefore this will stay constant.

Wish he made few extra calls in 2010 december to get his own party in line, It would have passed by now. Ther is no doubt he is playing politics but looking at oterside of the field, Obama is the only safe option we have right now. Let's hope he do get relected.

lol he's definitely getting reelected bro and its going to be the same story after that. Before election immigration is the number 1 issue, after the election it goes on the "backburner"

A president is just a figurehead.

Agree, I don't know why, but I still have some hopes with obama in his final term. Because he got nothing to loose now and looking at Bush's last term, giving me alot of hope. Unfortunaly bush was not popular in his own party, otherwise CIR would have paased back then.

Obama will win re election for sure, the BIG thing that needs to happen is the Democrats need to win back the house and hopefully blue dog democrats lose and get replaced with "DA supporting" democrats , and democrats need to hold the senate. There's only so much Obama can do, Lets face it the only way immigration bills can pass is if it's a new congress in charge. Don't focus on Obama he'll be fine focus on the congress memebers.

I would argue that the Economy and jobs will always be the number one issue. Only a close second to his healthcare plan (do not call it Obamacare, that's the drivel that's created by the GOP).

Obama is clutch. Yes we can. Dream Act has a good chance of passing.