Latino Congressman to Obama: Change takes courage, keep your promises!

[Bluebear]

The Obama administration deported a record-high 392,862 illegal immigrants in the 2010 fiscal year, and another 387,790, the previous record, in 2009.

OAKLAND -- Reflecting growing liberal frustration with President Barack Obama's lack of progress on immigration reform, a Democratic congressman from his home state of Illinois is barnstorming through the Bay Area this week to demand the administration slow down its record-high number of deportations.

"He's our champion," said U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., who lands in the Bay Area on Tuesday. "He's the one we want to support. But there's a community of people he made a promise and commitment to, and we want him to keep it."

Obama continues to get high popularity ratings from Latinos and most immigrant groups, but Gutierrez is among a growing chorus of immigrant advocates who have expressed waning enthusiasm as the president launches his re-election campaign. Gutierrez will visit Redwood City, San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco and St. Helena on a three-day tour of the region, part of a national campaign called "Change Takes Courage" that is aimed at pressuring Obama to act urgently on immigration matters.

"The president of the United States decided one morning that there was genocide in Libya and he was going to take the side of Libya and that they needed our help," Gutierrez said. "He didn't ask the Congress. He didn't hold a meeting. He used the discretion he has. He can use that same executive discretion to stop detaining undocumented young people and other vulnerable groups," said Gutierrez, who chairs the immigration task force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_17916025?nclick_check=1

[dkf]

1. I don't recall Obama promising to disregard upholding immigration laws.

He said he would try to change the laws but the votes don't exist.

[Bluebear]

2. I know immigration is a bee in your bonnet, dkf. Sorry, he did campaign on immigration reform

Even though President Barack Obama did little to pass immigration reform when he had an overwhelming Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate during his first two years in office, candidate Obama brought up the issue again Tuesday, in an effort to recover lost support among Hispanic voters.

According to The Hill, despite long odds against immigration reform now, President Obama on Tuesday urged a wide range of activists and officials to keep pushing the immigration reform issue.

The president told the group, which included Rev. Al Sharpton, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, that for Congress to act, they will have to put pressure on Capitol Hill.

Candidate Obama said this was one of his top priorities in the 2008 presidential campaign. Many times he said he would support such a bill during his first two years in office, but never pressed his party members hard enough to get them to vote on the issue.

http://usactionnews.com/2011/04/obama-talks-up-immigration-reform-as-election-rhetoric/?amp

[pettypace]

3. Latino pol wanting more Latino votes

The paragon of integrity that fellow is.

Make all 20 million of them citizens and let the green cards fall where they may.

[Bluebear]

4. OK.

[Bluebear]

5. .