Pictures

An aerial view shows the pack of riders as they cycle along the coast during the 145,5 km third stage of the centenary Tour de France from Ajaccio to Calvi, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica July 1, 2013. REUTERS/Pascal Pochard-Casabianca/Pool

Reuters Photojournalism

Our day's top images, in-depth photo essays and offbeat slices of life. See the best of Reuters photography.  See more | Photo caption 

Photo

Egypt's Mursi protests

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi clings to office as protesters demand that he resign.  Slideshow 

Photo

Obama in Africa

President Obama is seeking to build a new economic partnership with Africa at the end of a tour of the fast-growing continent.  Slideshow 

Sponsored Links

Obama urges House to approve Senate-backed immigration plan

Related Topics

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with regional judiciary leaders on the rule of law, at the Supreme Court in Dakar, June 27, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Reed

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with regional judiciary leaders on the rule of law, at the Supreme Court in Dakar, June 27, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Jason Reed

WASHINGTON | Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:15pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged the House of Representatives on Thursday to follow the lead of the Senate and approve a sweeping overhaul of U.S. immigration laws.

"Today, the Senate did its job. It's now up to the House to do the same," Obama said in a statement issued after the Senate voted 68-32 to pass the immigration plan. The statement was issued from Dakar, Senegal, where Obama was traveling.

Enactment of the immigration plan would mark a substantial achievement for the start of Obama's second term, but the legislation faces grim prospects in the Republican-controlled House.

Obama urged those Americans who support the measure to contact their elected representatives to press them to vote for it.

"Now is the time when opponents will try their hardest to pull this bipartisan effort apart so they can stop commonsense reform from becoming a reality. We cannot let that happen," he said.

"If you're among the clear majority of Americans who support reform - from CEOs to labor leaders, law enforcement to clergy - reach out to your member of Congress. Tell them to do the right thing," Obama said.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Eric Beech and Stacey Joyce)
U.S.
Politics
 
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/
Comments (2)
ArmandoGon wrote:
Yes! Do the right thing – REJECT THIS BILL. It is a sell out of our country. We do not need the 11 million illegals for anything and we have the resources to help them self deport. This bill increases more legal immigration when it provides no money for our packed failing schools, packed hospitals, packed freeways. Falling bridges and buildings. How are we going to support 20 million more people that this legislation opens doors to? Countries like Australia, Canada and England open doors to only HIGH SKILLED people and we are letting 20 million LOW skilled people in. FOR WHAT? How is that going to keep us competitive? And most of the senators, dumb as they are – how did they read and agree to a bill that is 1200 pages in less than a month? Obama and the senators must be impeached for being traitors to our nation.

Jun 27, 2013 6:09pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
AW4re wrote:
It would have been nice to have at least the highlights of the Senate bill covered.

Jun 27, 2013 7:36pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
See All Comments » Add Your Comment