US president Barack Obama today said he will soon announce his plan to address US immigration reform, but sidestepped questions about whether he would wait until after November midterm elections to take action.
Polls show Americans are concerned about the impact undocumented immigrants have on the nation, and Democrats nervous about keeping control of the Senate have urged the White House to hold off on changes until after the elections.
Reforms would be a significant boost for the estimated 50,000 Irish people living and working illegally across the United States. In July, the then minister for foreign affairs Eamon Gilmore said it was "far more a case now of when rather than if there will be immigration legislation in the US".
Speaking at a Nato summit in Wales, Mr Obama said he has received some recommendations from his homeland security secretary and attorney general on measures he can take without congressional approval.
“I suspect that on my flight back, this will be part of my reading, taking a look at some of the specifics that we’ve looked at, and I’ll be making an announcement soon,” Mr Obama told reporters at a press conference.
He first emphasised more enforcement for illegal immigration was needed, and reiterated that he wished House Republicans would have passed legislation to reform the system.
“In the absence of congressional action, I intend to take action, to make sure that we’re putting more resources on the border, that we’re upgrading how we process these cases, and that we find a way to encourage legal immigration.”
Mr Obama also said he wanted to give undocumented immigrants who have been living in America for years “some path so they can start paying taxes, pay a fine, and learn English, and be able to not look over their shoulder but be legal since they’ve been living here for quite some time.”
Reuters