[author: Jenna Stras Baranko]
President Barack Obama announced on June 30th plans to tackle immigration reform on his own in the upcoming months due to lack of Congressional action on the issue. The pledge to pursue executive action came after House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) formally told the president last week that the House would not pass an overhaul of immigration laws.
While the Senate bill for immigration reform passed a year ago, the House failed to follow suit. Now, with Boehner’s confirmation that the House will not vote on reform this year, Obama in response vowed to move forward regardless, stating, “If Congress will not do their job, at least we can do ours.”
Immigration reform has increasingly been a topic of concern as thousands of unaccompanied minors have been apprehended at the border this year. Obama did not specify his plans during the remarks, but did speak of his intention to redirect immigration enforcement efforts to the U.S. – Mexico border, shifting resources away from the interior of the country.
To watch the full remarks, please click here.
