Obama: Immigration Reform Within US Grasp

President Barack Obama said Tuesday that comprehensive immigration reform was finally within America's grasp, announcing a plan to usher 11 million illegal immigrants towards citizenship within stronger US borders.

Published

4 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

US Politics, United States

People

Barack Obama

Places

United States of America, Nevada, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C.

Transcript

SHOTLIST: WASHINGTON, JANUARY 29, 2013, SOURCE: US POOL **NO RESALE for non-editorial purposes** SOUNDBITE 1 Barack Obama (man), President of the United States (English, 15 sec): "I believe we are finally at a moment where comprehensive immigration reform is within our grasp. But I promise you this: the closer we get, the more emotional this debate is going to become." SOUNDBITE 2 Barack Obama (man), President of the United States (English, 17 sec): "We need Congress to act -- and not just on the dream act. We need Congress to act on a comprehensive approach that deals with the 11 million undocumented immigrants who are in the country right now. That's what we need." SOUNDBITE 3 Barack Obama (man), President of the United States (English, 13 sec): "And if Congress is unable to move forward in a timely fashion, I will send up a bill based on my proposal and insist that they vote on it right away. [cheers/applause]" - Obama arriving to loud cheers and applause - VAR cutaways of Obama during his speech - VAR cutaways of the crowd - Obama at the end of his speech -------------------------- AFP TEXT STORY US-politics-immigration-Obama Obama: immigration reform within US grasp =(PICTURE)= LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Jan 29, 2013 (AFP) - President Barack Obama said Tuesday that comprehensive immigration reform was finally within America's grasp, announcing a plan to usher 11 million illegal immigrants towards citizenship within stronger US borders. "The question now is simple. Do we have the resolve as a people, as a country, as a government, to finally put this issue behind us. I believe that we do," the president said in a speech in Las Vegas, Nevada. "I believe we are finally at a moment where comprehensive reform is within our grasp," Obama said. But predicting debate over the fiercely divisive issue would get "more emotional," Obama called on Congress to act swiftly, and warned in a mostly conciliatory speech he would take a tough line against any delays. Should lawmakers fail to act in a "timely fashion," Obama warned: "I will send up a bill based on my proposal and insist that they vote on it right away."