By KRWG News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/krwg/local-krwg-968046.mp3
El Paso – El Paso took the national stage Tuesday afternoon, as President Obama began a renewed push for immigration reform.
Obama says comprehensive reform should include a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million people in this country illegally.
In his El Paso address, the President said to stay in the US they would have to admit they broke the law, pay their taxes and a fine, and learn English. He also said they would have to undergo background checks before they can get in line for legalization.
To help make his case, Obama quoted a high profile business leader who's also an immigrant.
President Obama:
"One CEO had this to say about reform. "American ingenuity is a product of the openness and diversity of this society Immigrants have made America great as the world leader in business, science, higher education and innovation." That's Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox News, and an immigrant himself. I don't know if you're familiar with his views, but let's just say he doesn't have an Obama bumper sticker on his car."
Obama also stressed border security in his speech. He said the Border Patrol has 20,000 agents, more than double the number in 2004. And he said over the last 2 and a half years, there's been a 31 percent increase is drug seizures and a 64 percent increase in the confiscation of weapons.