Obama: Immigration reform key

Politico
Obama: Immigration reform key
By: Carol E. Lee
April 16, 2009 12:03 PM EST

MEXICO CITY — President Obama said immigration reform will be part of his administration’s efforts to tackle issues plaguing the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Immigration reform has to be part of a broader strategy to deal with our border issues,” Obama said in an interview with CNN en Español.

“I've already met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and committed to working with them to try to shape an agenda that can move through Congress.”

Obama’s remarks come in advance of his arrival in Mexico City today, where a number of pro-immigration protests are planned as he meets with President Felipe Calderon. Obama praised Calderon for his “outstanding and heroic job” handling violence along the border.

But he dodged the question of how he will deal with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Summit of the Americas.

“He’ll be one of many people that I will have the opportunity to meet,” Obama said. “We want to listen and learn, as well as talk. And that approach, I think, of mutual respect and finding common interests is one that ultimately will serve everybody.”

As for those leaders who plan to make Cuba an issue at the summit in Trinidad and Tobago, “I have no problem with them bringing up Cuba as an issue,” Obama said, noting his policy change this week that lifted restrictions on Americans’ travel and money sent back to relatives in Cuba.

“But Cuba has to take some steps,” Obama added, such as releasing political prisoners, allowing Cubans to travel and “speak their minds” more freely.

“And if there's some sense of movement on those fronts in Cuba, then I think that we can see a further thawing of relations and further changes.”

Then Obama showed off his minimal Spanish.

“Muchas gracias,” interviewer Juan Carlos Lopez said.

“De nada,” Obama replied.