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President Obama joins immigration reform push | President Obama joins immigration reform push |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President Barack Obama will try to build support later for an immigration overhaul, a day after a bipartisan group of senators said the time was right for reform. | US President Barack Obama will try to build support later for an immigration overhaul, a day after a bipartisan group of senators said the time was right for reform. |
Mr Obama will present his plan at a high school in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Mr Obama will present his plan at a high school in Las Vegas, Nevada. |
It is expected to mirror the senators' framework, though possibly with a faster path to citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants. | It is expected to mirror the senators' framework, though possibly with a faster path to citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants. |
The move reflects the growing influence of Hispanic voters. | The move reflects the growing influence of Hispanic voters. |
Speaking at 11:55 local time (19:55 GMT) on Tuesday, Mr Obama will make his case for an immigration revamp, which is expected to largely reflect a blueprint he rolled out in 2011. | |
Mr Obama is not expected to unveil legislation, but to rally support for the proposals promoted on Monday by a group of four Democratic and four Republican senators. | Mr Obama is not expected to unveil legislation, but to rally support for the proposals promoted on Monday by a group of four Democratic and four Republican senators. |
Like the bipartisan plan, Mr Obama is also expected to push for an overhaul of the existing legal immigration system and securing US borders. | Like the bipartisan plan, Mr Obama is also expected to push for an overhaul of the existing legal immigration system and securing US borders. |
But the senators' proposals allow undocumented immigrants to start the process of becoming citizens only after US borders are deemed secure, a link not expected in the president's plan. | But the senators' proposals allow undocumented immigrants to start the process of becoming citizens only after US borders are deemed secure, a link not expected in the president's plan. |
At their news conference on Monday, the so-called gang of eight promoted their blueprint, which they hope could pass the Senate by summer. | At their news conference on Monday, the so-called gang of eight promoted their blueprint, which they hope could pass the Senate by summer. |
While passage of such a bill is not assured in the Senate, it faces a tougher route in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. | While passage of such a bill is not assured in the Senate, it faces a tougher route in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. |
Many conservative lawmakers there denounce a path to legalisation as an "amnesty" for lawbreakers. | Many conservative lawmakers there denounce a path to legalisation as an "amnesty" for lawbreakers. |
But many Republicans recognise their party's hard line on immigration has become a liability, after November's election when the Democratic president won more than 70% of the Latino vote. | |
Arizona Senator John McCain, the former Republican presidential candidate who lost to Mr Obama in 2008, said on Monday: "The Republican Party is losing the support of our Hispanic citizens. | Arizona Senator John McCain, the former Republican presidential candidate who lost to Mr Obama in 2008, said on Monday: "The Republican Party is losing the support of our Hispanic citizens. |
"And we realise that there are many issues on which we think we are in agreement with our Hispanic citizens, but this is a pre-eminent issue with those citizens." | "And we realise that there are many issues on which we think we are in agreement with our Hispanic citizens, but this is a pre-eminent issue with those citizens." |