Immigration Reform Supporters Hopeful for US Action

Union members and immigration reform supporters watching President Barack Obama's televised speech are hopeful for progress on immigration reform, but know it's a long way before legislation is put in place.

Published

4 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

US Politics, United States, Hispanic Americans

People

Barack Obama

Places

United States of America

Transcript

Union workers and immigration reform supporters gather for a public viewing of President Barack Obama's Tuesday speech on immigration. They welcomed the call for comprehensive reform and Obama's pledge to forge a path to citizenship for millions of illegal citizens. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARTIN TERRONES, SEIU COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, SAYING: "But we feel that this time is different because the Republicans and even the Democrats and others realize that Latinos have power, the Latino vote is very important." Obama has appealed to Latino voters in the past by promising progressive reform. Now they want to see those promises fulfilled. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ANA CASTRO, SAYING: "We have to continue fighting on the streets, the immigrants shouldn't be afraid, they need to come out to the streets, they need to come out and vote because thanks to us, the ones that are here legally Mr. President is where he is for the next four years." With 11 million undocumented people living in the United States, the path to reform is steep. But Obama said that if Congress is unable to act in a timely fashion, he will propose immigration legislation of his own and "insist that they vote on it right away."