In an Oval Office meeting, President Obama met with U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and U.S. Representatives Nydia Velazquez and Luis Gutierrez. During the inner-circle pow-wow the President reiterated his commitment for reaching across the aisle and bringing Republicans together and passing comprehensive immigration legislation.
Obama said in a statement from the White House that the “reform must provide lasting and dedicated resources for border security, while also requiring accountability from both individuals in the U.S. illegally and unscrupulous employers who game the system for their own economic advantage.”
The President also expressed his support for the DREAM Act that Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s has attached to a defense spending bill. During the meeting Obama said he looked forward to signing the DREAM Act into law. During the President’s tenure in the Senate he cosponsored the DREAM Act as a stand alone piece of legislation.