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Seeking swift action a day after a group of influential senators unveiled their own proposal, President Obama unveils his own vision on how to overhau...
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Last week.
Last week I've got are being sworn in second terms -- the united.
During my inaugural address I talked about how making progress.
On the defining challenges of our time.
Doesn't require us to settle every debate.
Or ignore every difference that we may have.
It requires to find common ground.
And move forward.
In common purpose.
-- -- -- I -- that some measures will be harder to left than -- Some debate will be more contentious.
That's to be back.
But the reason I came here today.
Because the challenge where the differences are -- Where broad consensus.
Emerged.
And where a call for action.
Cannot hurt coming from all across America.
I'm here today because the time has come.
For common sense.
Comprehensive.
Immigration reform.
-- The thing.
Of the -- there because.
I mean because most Americans agree.
That it's time to let the system that.
Been broken for way too long.
I'm here make -- business leaders.
Faith leaders.
Labor leaders.
Law enforcement.
And leaders from both parties are coming together.
-- now is the time but a better way.
To welcome striving.
Hopeful immigrants -- America the land -- -- Time.
To do this -- we can strengthen our bottom.
And strengthen our country's future.
Think about a -- a five ourselves a nation of him.
That's who we are in our bones.
The promise.
We see you know who come here for every corner of the globe that's always been one of our great -- It keeps our workforce -- It keeps our country on the cutting it.
Helped build the greatest economic engine the world never know.
After all immigrants helped start business like Google.
-- -- -- They created entire industry that in turn created new jobs.
And new prosperity Parsons.
Here one in four high tech start -- in America -- founded by him.
One in four new small business owners were immigrants including right here in a bad.
Folks who came here seeking opportunity and now want to share that opportunity -- other Americans.
What we all know that today we have an immigration system that's out of date.
-- -- -- The -- holding back.
Instead of helping us grow our economy and strengthen our middle.
Right now we have eleven million undocumented immigrants that a man.
Eleven million men and women.
From all over the world.
Who live their lives in the -- They broke the rules.
Across the border illegally.
Maybe they'll stay there because.
Those of the facts.
Robert.
The eleven million men and women.
Are now here.
Many of them have been here for years.
In the overwhelming majority of these individuals are looking for any trouble.
They're contributing members of the community.
Looking up -- their families were looking out for their -- -- woven into the fabric of our lives.
Every day.
Like the rest of us.
Go out and try to -- it.
Often they do -- in the shadow economy a place where employers.
May offer them last in the minimum wage.
Or make them work overtime without extra -- And when that happens not just that program it's bad for the entire economy.
Because all the -- that are trying to do the right.
That are hiring people illegally paying a decent -- following the rules they're the ones off they've got a complete.
Against companies that are -- in the and the wages and working conditions American workers are threatened to.
So work truly committed to strengthening our -- -- And providing more ladders of opportunity to those four -- to work hard to make it into the middle.
We got to fix.
We have to make sure that every business.
Every worker in America.
Is playing by the saying.
We have to bring this shadow economy in the light of the everybody's held accountable.
For who they hire.
Immigrants for getting on the right side at all.
-- -- -- That's why we need comprehensive immigration reform.
There's another economic reason why we need reform.
Not about the folks who come here illegally and had.
The effect they have on our economy it's also about the folks who try to come here illegally would have a hard time well.
And the effect that has on our -- Right another brilliant comes from all over the world.
Living in classroom -- our top universe.
-- earning degrees in the field if you liked engineer and computer science.
But one -- at a school.
One day -- that diploma.
Good chance -- to leave our country.
Well think about that.
Intel.
Started with the help an -- who studied here and then eight.
The -- Started with the help of an immigrant who studied here and then.
Right now one of those classrooms -- a strong run going -- how to turn their big idea.
There and -- -- program into a big.
We're giving them all the -- they need to figure that out.
But we're gonna turn around and tell them to start that -- great those jobs in China.
Or India.
Or Mexico.
Or someplace else that's not how you broad new industry in America.
-- you give new and three more compatible.
That's why we need comprehensive immigration reform.
Well.
How good.
-- first term we took steps to try and patch up some of the worst cracked.
First strengthen security -- the borders -- that we could finally stemmed the tide of illegal immigrants.
We put more boots on the ground on the southern border than at any time -- -- Today illegal crossings are down nearly 80% from the peak in.
Two felt.
Second we focus our enforcement efforts on criminals who are here illegally and who endanger our communities.
And today deportation of criminals -- at a higher level of and third we took up the cause drink.
Young people were brought to the.
Young people brought up -- -- their lives here have futures here.
We -- -- if you're able to meet some big rector.
-- pursuing an education.
That welcomes that are offering the chance to come out of the shadows that you can live here were accurately.
Can finally have.
The dignity of knowing you belong.
Because -- changes and permanent.
We need congress to act.
Not just on the DREAM Act.
We need congress to act on -- comprehensive approach.
That pilot deals with -- eleven million undocumented immigrants or in the country right now.
That's what we.
Don't know -- For the first time in many.
Republicans and Democrats seem ready to tackle this problem to get.
Members of both parties.
Both chambers are actively working on a solution.
Yesterday.
By a group.
Announced.
Their principles for -- -- immigration reform which are very much in line.
With the principles are proposed and campaigned on for the last -- At this moment it looks like there's a genuine desire to get this done.
And that's very -- This time.
Action must fault.
We can't allow.
Immigration reform to get bogged down in an endless debate we've been debating -- very long time.
So.
Not as if we don't know technically what needs to get -- Consequence to help move this prop process -- -- Today I'm laying out my ideas for immigration reform.
And I hope is that this provides some key markers to members of congress to craft a bill.
Are proposing have traditionally supported but both Democrats like Ted Kennedy.
And Republicans.
Like president George W book you don't get that match up very -- -- so we know where the can.
Now of course there will be rigorous debate about many of the details.
Every stakeholder should engage in real -- and -- process.
But it's important for us to recognize.
-- the foundation.
For bipartisan action is already in place.
If congress.
Unable to move forward in a timely -- I'll send up a bill based on my proposal.
And in the big vote on it right away.
The principles.
Our triple.
A lot of details behind it we're gonna hand out a bunch of paper.
And -- but -- know exactly what we're talking about but.
But the principles are pretty straightforward.
First.
I believe we need to stay focused on -- -- That means continuing to strengthen.
Security at our borders.
It means cracking down more forcefully on business that knowingly hire undocumented.
-- most businesses want to do the right thing but a lot of them have a hard time figuring out who's here legally who's not.
So we need to implement a national system that -- quickly and accurately verify.
Someone's employment status.
And if they still knowingly hire undocumented workers that we need to ramp up the penalty.
We have to deal -- -- eleven million individuals were here illegal.
We all agree that these men and women should have to earn their way to.
But for comprehensive immigration reform -- work.
It.
Would not -- -- -- Upon that include passing a background -- Paying taxes.
Paying a penalty.
Learning English.
And going to the back of -- line -- -- folk we're trying to come here legally that's only for.
-- -- There won't quit process.
But it will be a fair process will let individuals out of the shadows and give them a chance to earn their way to a green card and eventually.
-- -- And the third principle.
As we've got to bring our legal immigration system into the one person.
Because -- no longer reflects the realities of our time.
For example.
If you -- -- service.
You shouldn't have to wait years before her family is able to join them out.
You're a foreign student who wants to -- career in science technology.
Or more entrepreneur or who wants to start a business.
With the backing of American investors.
Should help you do here.
Because -- week -- -- American.
And American jobs.
Levels grow our economy.
-- strengthen our middle.
That's what -- president immigration reform look like.
Smarter enforcement.
A pathway to earn citizenship.
Improvements.
In the legal immigration system Avaya we continue to be -- magnate.
For the best and the brightest all around the world.
Pretty straightforward.
The question now of do we have resolved.
People.
And they -- A big government.
To finally put it behind us.
I believe that we do.
-- that we do.
I believe we are finally at a moment.
-- comprehensive immigration reform within our -- But I promised us the closer we get.
No more emotional.
This debate is gonna become.
Immigration has always been an issue in -- -- That's not surprised.
There are few things more important to -- -- them who gets to come here Clark country home.
Who gets the privilege of becoming a citizen of the United States of America that's a big deal.
We talk about that in the abstract.
In -- Sometimes for the pressure to take on a feeling of us -- And when that happens a lot of folks forget that most of us used to be that.
-- It's really important -- -- memory.
-- one of the first Americans.
And native American you came from someplace else.
-- -- -- Jeff Salazar and you know Mexican American to -- but he he points -- -- them and eleven more.
Where he lives for 400 years ago.
Little -- anywhere.
Irish.
Who left behind a land of famine.
The Germans who fled persecution.
Scandinavians who arrived eager to pioneer out west.
The poll.
The Russians the Italians Chinese the Japanese the west Indians the heart of the island on one coast and Angel island on the -- -- -- -- Before -- -- They were them.
When each new wave of they -- From Mosul were already here.
We faced hardship.
-- -- They face ridicule.
But over time.
-- what about their daily lives.
And earned a living there raised the -- As they built a community.
Their kids went to school the -- did their part to build -- They were the -- is part of gains but they're all of the millions of women and men whose names remain -- Remember but whose actions helped make us who we are who -- built this country and by brick by brick.
They all came here knowing that what makes -- an American.
Not just -- Or bird.
But allegiance.
To our -- entrance.
And the faith in the idea of anyone from anywhere.
Can write the next great chapter of arsenal.
And that's still true today.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- here this afternoon where -- -- There is right.
Allen was born in Mexico.
Here is brought to country by his parents when he was that shot.
Growing up Allen went to an American school.
Pledge allegiance.
To the American plan.
Delta American and -- white.
Ones.
-- Want.
-- -- In high school alum watched his friends come a very driving around town -- new license.
Earning extra cash from their summer jobs the ball.
He knew he couldn't do -- -- But it didn't matter that much what mattered to Allen was earning an education so you could live up to god given potential.
Last year when Alan heard the news that we're gonna offer a chance for folks like him to emerge from the shadows even if it's just for two -- at the time.
One of the first site.
Few months ago we want one of the first people of Nevada to get -- In that moment all of.
I felt the -- -- I felt except.
So today -- -- second year of college southern Nevada.
Now I'm starting to become a doctor.
He hopes to join the airports.
He's.
Working -- every single let.
The build a better life for himself -- -- wants.
Opportunity.
To do his part to build -- -- America.
-- So in the coming weeks.
The idea of reform becomes more real.
And the debate.
Becomes more -- And there folk who are trying to.
Pull this thing apart.
Remember -- All those who share the same hopes and the same for.
Remember that this is not just a debate about policy.
-- people.
But men and women.
Young people.
Who want nothing more mature -- their way into the American school.
Throughout our history.
Only made our nation strong.
How we will make -- this country the same as the last.
American.
Welcoming.
Everybody.
Who aspires.
To do something.
Won't work hard.
On the play -- work.
Thank.
God bless god --
