Obama said the bill would help to strengthen the borders of the U.S. and hold more accountable employers
April 17, 2013 – Civil liberties and faith-based groups, ahead of the release of the sweeping immigration overhaul proposal, started calling for the proposal to be changed singling out the path to become a citizen for undocumented immigrants as being too stringent.
President Obama commented on the proposal Tuesday afternoon by saying it was clearly a work of compromise and warned that no one, including himself, would get all they wanted.
However, after he was briefed on the new immigration proposal by two of its authors Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, Obama said its contents were largely consistent with the principles he has for comprehensive immigration reform.
Obama said the bill would help to strengthen the borders of the U.S. and hold more accountable employers, if they hire undocumented immigrants knowingly. It also, said Obama, provides the immigrants that are already in the U.S. with a pathway to reach citizenship.
The proposal would also bring the immigration system into the 21st century helping to reunited families that have been separated and to attract entrepreneurs that are highly skilled who can create good paying jobs that will help the economy grow, said the President.
The two senators said they felt good about the proposal since Obama was supportive of it, even though he did have some reservations. The two said this was just the start of the process not its end. Now hearings will begin, amendments will be added and floor debates will take place.
The American Civil Liberties Union called for change saying the even though there is a breakthrough with this legislation the road to become a citizen should not exclude those who have committed minor crimes or those unable to pay large fines.