UPDATE - White House Signals Movement on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

UPDATE - The White House has formally announced that President Obama will be giving a major speech on the importance of passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Sam Stein of the Huffington Post, has the full scoop here.

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Big news today on CIR, yesterday the White House held a meeting with Immigration Activists and formally announced that President Obama will be making a  speech on the need to pass Immigration Reform. The announcement is below with important information highlighted:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 28, 2010

Readout of the President’s Meeting with Grassroots Leaders to Discuss Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Today, the President met with representatives from a broad range of community groups to discuss the ways in which his Administration is working with stakeholders around the country as well as members of Congress to craft a comprehensive approach that will finally fix our broken immigration system.  The President reiterated that he wants to see a bipartisan process based on the proposal presented in the Senate and building on the Schumer-Graham framework, which thoughtfully addresses the need to further secure our borders and demands accountability from both workers who are here illegally and unscrupulous employers who game the system.

During the meeting the President also reiterated that truly securing our border requires comprehensive immigration reform, said that his Administration will continue to work with Congress to act at the earliest possible opportunity and he announced that he would be delivering a speech soon on the importance of passing comprehensive immigration reform. 

He also thanked the community groups for their support and hard work on this issue as this important process moves forward. In addition, the President once again made clear his views on the recent law passed in Arizona and noted that the Department of Justice was reviewing it.

Erica Warner of the AP has a story up on the meeting which can be read here, excerpts are below:

President Barack Obama is enlisting activists and labor leaders in a push for comprehensive immigration legislation that will showcase Republican opposition and include a speech by the president.

The strategy was discussed during a meeting Monday by a range of prominent labor leaders and activist groups. Participants said Obama reiterated his support for immigration legislation but noted the political realities that have stalled it in Congress.

Latino leaders say they will work in coming months to pressure Republicans to give way and support an immigration bill — and make opponents pay at the ballot box if they don't.

"We're going to make absolutely crystal clear who's at fault here," said Eliseo Medina, a leader of the Service Employees International Union.