Steps toward Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2009

President Obama's election campaign left little doubt that the new administration would place an immigration initiative on its agenda.  The only question that remained was the timing of legislative efforts in light of the multitude of urgent issues that faced the incoming President. 

In a press conference marking the end of his first 100 days in office, President Obama reiterated his administration's commitment to engage in comprehensive immigration reform and indicated that he "see[s] the process moving this first year."  While the President conceded that he does not have control over the legislative calendar, he promised that his team will work with legislative leaders to see what can be done.  This intention to move forward is further supported by a recent Obama administration plan to pump $27 billion into border and transportation security as part of the 2010 budget.

Another development on Capitol Hill that signals a move in the direction of comprehensive immigration reform was a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship.  The April 30^th hearing examined solutions to address America's broken immigration system.  While Committee Chairman believes that it is still too early to tell if we can "get major immigration reform," hearings in Congress and expressions of intent from the President to move immigration reform forward reinforce the administration's commitment to immigration reform sooner than later.