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Obama seeking immigration deal within 6 months
By JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press
WASHINGTON, DC, January 30, 2013 (AP): President Barack Obama
says he's looking for immigration reform to be completed within
six months.
Obama said a deal should certainly be attainable this year, but
he wants one even sooner. He said that politics, not technical
issues, are standing in the way.
``I can guarantee that I will put everything I have behind it,''
Obama said in an interview with Telemundo, one of two he
conducted Wednesday with Spanish-language television networks.
A
group of senators, both Democrats and Republicans, has agreed on
a framework for comprehensive immigration reform, including a
path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million undocumented
immigrants already in the country. In the Republican-controlled
House, another group of lawmakers is working on its own
proposal.
Obama is promoting his own set of principles similar to those
included in the Senate plan, but he has not been directly
involved in the Senate's negotiations—perhaps a sign he
recognizes that too much involvement by the Democratic president
could make it harder for Republican lawmakers to sign on.
But Obama said he is open to meeting privately or publicly with
members of either party, including Republican Sen. Marco
Rubio of Florida, a potential 2016 presidential candidate.
``I would be pleased to meet with anyone, anytime, anyplace,''
Obama said.
In a separate interview with Univision, Obama said the bill
should make clear that a pathway to citizenship ``is real and
not just a fantasy for the future.'' Rubio is among lawmakers
pushing for improvements on border security before citizenship
would be granted, which has emerged as one likely sticking point
between the Senate group and the White House. Obama said his
administration has and will continue to take steps to tighten
the border.
``What we don't want is to create some vague prospect in the
future that somehow comprehensive immigration reform that
includes a pathway to citizenship will happen, you know,
mañana,'' he said, using the Spanish word for ``tomorrow.''
``We want to make sure that we're very clear that this
legislation provides a real pathway.''
Associated Press writers Jim Kuhnhenn and Darlene Superville
contributed to this report.
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