Obama makes another case for immigration reform

Making yet another case for a comprehensive immigration reform that would provide a path to citizenship to 11 million undocumented people from countries like India, US President Barack Obama today said the "broken" immigration system makes it harder for the law enforcement agencies to do their jobs.
"Fixing a broken immigration system is just the right thing to do. It's also the right thing to do for safety and security in communities all across America," Obama said in his meeting with law enforcement agencies at the White House.
A bill on comprehensive immigration reform has already been passed by the Senate, but it is stuck in the House of Representatives, mainly because of the differences that the majority Republicans have with the Democrats and the Obama Administration.

"The immigration system that we have right now makes it harder, not easier, for law enforcement agencies to do their jobs. It makes it harder for law enforcement to know when dangerous people cross our borders.
"It makes it harder for business owners who play by the rules to compete when they're undercut by those who would exploit workers in a shadow economy," Obama said referring to the difficulties posed by the current immigration system.
If passed by the Congress and signed by the US President, the comprehensive immigration reform would provide a path of citizenship to some 11 million undocumented workers including a large number of undocumented Indians.

Obama said the absence of a comprehensive immigration reform makes it harder for law enforcement to do their jobs when large segments of the community are afraid to report crimes or serve as witnesses because they fear the consequences for themselves, for their families.

"The system's not fair. It's not fair to workers, it's not fair to businesses who are trying to do the right thing; it's not fair to law enforcement agencies that are already stretched thin," he argued.
Obama stressed a comprehensive immigration reform would not only strengthen the American border, but would further boost the economy.
"What this reform package would also do is create a firm but fair pathway to earn citizenship for those who live in the shadow and, as a consequence, would give law enforcement a better idea of who's in the country. It would also help build trust between local communities and law enforcement and immigrant communities.

"It would undermine criminal enterprises that prey on undocumented immigrants, and it would allow law enforcement to focus on its primary mission, which is keeping our communities safe," Obama said.