Washington, D.C. — Angela Maria Kelley, Vice President for Immigration Policy and Advocacy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, released the following statement today on President Barack Obama’s speech outlining his plan to fix our broken immigration system:
President Obama laid out a plan for immigration reform today that clearly provides a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country. The president brought back basic humanity to the immigration debate, reminding us all that undocumented immigrants aspire to be full citizens. They, similar to us all, are working and are struggling to make a better life for themselves. Importantly, the president reminded us that, “What makes somebody an American is not just blood or birth, but allegiance to our founding principles.”
Today’s speech and immigration plan comes on the heels of the Senate releasing their bipartisan immigration reform framework yesterday and illustrates the momentum on this issue. Members of both parties on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, as well as the American people as a whole, all believe that the time is right for common-sense reform. The president is exhibiting leadership by fostering a dialogue on immigration, while also letting the Senate do its work. Notably, he has also said that he will step in with his own bill if the process stalls. The president understands better than anyone what it means to make history, and his remarks today started us on a path to do just that.
To speak with Angela Maria Kelley, please contact Crystal Patterson at 202.478.6350 or [email protected].