Provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants

Obama has said immigration reform must wait

Updated: Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 | By Angie Drobnic Holan

For those waiting for President Barack Obama to keep his promise to create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, Obama has said he does intend to fulfill his immigration promise. But he has also said he will not tackle the issue in 2009. Instead, immigration reform must get in line behind health care reform, financial regulations and a cap-and-trade plan on climate change.

Obama gave some of his most extended remarks on the matter at an August news conference with the leaders of Mexico and Canada.

He said he would push for immigration reform in 2010, after the other initiatives had been handled.

"Now, am I going to be able to snap my fingers and get this done? No. This is going to be difficult; it's going to require bipartisan cooperation. There are going to be demagogues out there who try to suggest that any form of pathway for legalization for those who are already in the United States is unacceptable," Obama said.

So Obama has said he's not moving on this promise in 2009.

He's taken steps to appease critics of illegal immigration in the debate over health care reform. For example, he added restrictions to specifically bar illegal immigrants from using their own money to purchase health insurance through any new health insurance exchanges. (Pending proposals already barred illegal immigrants from receiving subsidized care.)

Obama said that he will not push for a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants in 2009, so we rate this promise Stalled.

Sources:White House Web site, Press conference by President Obama, President Calderon of Mexico and Prime Minister Harper of Canada , Aug. 10, 2009

Washington Post, Obama vows to focus on the border, but immigration action won't come until 2010 , Aug. 11, 2009

Los Angeles Times, Obama takes heat from other side of immigrant healthcare debate , Sept. 16, 2009

White House Web site, Word from the White House: Reality Check on Taxes, Undocumented Immigrants, Rationing , Oct. 1, 2009