President Obama marked Cinco de Mayo by urging Congress to work on comprehensive immigration reform this year, while criticizing Arizona's new immigration law as the wrong approach, CNN reported.
As our Riverside immigration attorneys and Orange County immigration lawyers monitor the protests and backlash over the Arizona law, we will continue to report developments here on our California Immigration Attorney Blog.
"The answer isn't to undermine fundamental principles that define us as a nation," said Obama, who instead called for "common-sense comprehensive immigration reform."
Arizona's law permits law enforcement to stop and question suspected undocumented immigrants, request identification, and turn those in violation over for deportation proceedings. It has been compared to California's Proposition 187, which was passed in the 1990s and attempted to prevent immigrants from receiving public education or other social services. That measure was ultimately ruled unconstitutional by the federal courts.
Obama's remarks came on Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of Mexican heritage that has been embraced by millions of Americans and one of the most overt signs of the vast social and economical contributions the modern-day immigrant population has made to the nation. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army's unlikely victory over French forces on May 5, 1862 at the Battle of Puebla. In the United States, it has become a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, in much the same way St. Patrick's Day celebrates Irish heritage.
Immigration advocates in California and elsewhere have been pushing the Obama Administration to deliver on its promise of compassionate immigration reform.
"I was pleased to see a strong proposal for comprehensive reform presented in the Senate last week, and I was pleased it was based on a bipartisan framework," Obama said. "I want to begin work this year. And I want Democrats and Republicans to work with me."
Obama said states will continue to take "misconceived" steps to address immigration unless the federal government takes action on a comprehensive approach.
"We can't start singling out people depending on who they look like or how they talk or how they dress," Obama said. "We need bipartisan support, but it can be done and it needs to be done."
If you are facing an immigration issue in Southern California, the Riverside immigration lawyers at Howard Law offer confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-872-5925 or contact us through this website.
