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Struggling local economies need undocumented immigrants to grow the workforce and create more jobs, the White House said Monday in its latest pitch to sell the nation on President Barack Obama's plan to delay deportations for millions of people living in the U.S. without legal status. "These actions not only live up to our heritage as a nation but are essential to building on our hopes for a brighter future," White House officials said in a statement. "In fact, the president's steps will allow people to contribute more fully to their communities and spark an economic boost for every single state."

The Obama administration's push for immigration reform included a map that allows Americans to look up how their state will benefit from the White House's plan. California, for example, would allegedly see an $11.7 billion increase in its gross domestic product over the next decade and an increase of $170 a year in the average wage for all U.S.-born workers. New York could boost its GDP by $7 billion during the same time under Obama's immigration proposal, according to the White House. The map can be seen here.

Obama announced in November that he would sidestep a divided Congress and use his executive authority to help immigrants obtain work permits and avoid deportation. The effort is aimed at illegal immigrants with children who are U.S. citizens. The president's Council of Economic Advisers has said the plan would grow the U.S. economy by $90 billion to $210 billion by 2025.

Critics counter that Obama's overhaul would hurt foreign-born workers, increase taxes as immigrants sign up for public benefits and encourage illegal immigration. On Monday, two more states joined a legal battle against the Obama administration's executive action on immigration, meaning 26 states are now fighting the order in a federal court in Texas, according to the Associated Press. The lawsuit led by Texas accuses the White House of "trampling" the Constitution.

Originally posted here:
Immigration Reform 2015: Obama Immigrant Plan Will Boost Economy, Help States, White House Says

Immigration Reform: Common Que

By: Alex Vachon

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Immigration Reform: Common Que - Video

"You don't punish a child for something his parents did," he said during an appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

READ: 2016 race kicks off in Iowa

But, straddling a line that has flummoxed Republicans in recent presidential races, Huckabee still took a shot at President Barack Obama, who in 2012 moved to stop the deportation of those undocumented immigrants, saying Obama, "didn't have the authority to do it."

"There's a process. We have a thing called the Constitution, and the Constitution doesn't allow the chief executive just to make up law," he said.

Huckabee's comments came as he defended state policies that allow undocumented immigrants known as "Dreamers" to qualify for in-state college tuition -- and as he explores a run for president.

The former Arkansas governor, Fox News host and winner of the 2008 Iowa caucuses said he won't announce a decision on running for the White House until the spring, but added: "I think it's pretty evident that I'm moving in that direction."

He spent Saturday at a conservative summit hosted by Iowa Rep. Steve King, the anti-immigration firebrand, which was attended by several top GOP 2016 hopefuls.

SEE ALSO: Scott Walker adds key Iowa strategist to 2016 team

The issue of immigration could be a key one in the GOP's 2016 nominating process. In the wake of Obama's 2012 defeat of Republican nominee Mitt Romney, party officials had called for a comprehensive immigration overhaul that could help Republicans appeal to Hispanics.

Since then, though, the party has shifted to the right, blasting Obama for his handling of border security and saying his executive actions on immigration have spoiled all chances of moving an immigration reform bill through Congress.

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Huckabee seeks to straddle line on immigration

QUEBEC -- Quebec is preparing for a major reform of its immigration policy, with proposed changes partly inspired by Ottawa, says the province's immigration minister.

The time has come for Quebec to re-examine its immigration model, and the way the province chooses, welcomes and integrates foreigners into the job market, said Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil ahead of year-long public consultations on the issue set to begin Wednesday at the Quebec legislature.

Weil told The Canadian Press she was ready to launch a "big reform" of relations between new immigrants and Quebec society at-large by the end of the year, a process that will include the revision of Quebec's immigration law.

Everything will be on the table: the number of immigrants welcomed annually, the selection process and favoured countries of origin, the importance of knowing French before arriving, French language courses, the recognition of training undertaken abroad, regionalization, and the sharing of common values.

The minister said she wanted a wide-reaching debate on the issues, and was "very open to everything that will be proposed."

Fifty stakeholders are expected to participate in public consultation hearings over the next few weeks on the future of immigration to Quebec. The province's current policy has been in place for 25 years.

A later consultation will also be held on two specific aspects of immigration: the number of immigrants Quebec wants to welcome every year and their countries of origin.

The emphasis, however, will be placed on the economy and balancing between the recruitment of new immigrants and workforce needs. Finding candidates that can fill empty jobs will be key, and on that point, Quebec is being inspired by Ottawa.

Last year, the federal government reformed its selection process for new immigrants. With the focus now primarily on filling jobs, every candidate for immigration to Canada must produce a "declaration of interest" showcasing his or her ability to meet employers' needs.

Weil said she wanted to appropriate that model. " 1/8What 3/8 I want to arrive at, is an immigration system based on the Canadian model," she said.

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Quebec prepares for Ottawa-inspired immigration reform

By Jocelyne Richer, The Canadian Press

QUEBEC - Quebec is preparing for a major reform of its immigration policy, with proposed changes partly inspired by Ottawa, says the province's immigration minister.

The time has come for Quebec to re-examine its immigration model, and the way the province chooses, welcomes and integrates foreigners into the job market, said Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil ahead of year-long public consultations on the issue set to begin Wednesday at the Quebec legislature.

Weil told The Canadian Press she was ready to launch a "big reform" of relations between new immigrants and Quebec society at-large by the end of the year, a process that will include the revision of Quebec's immigration law.

Everything will be on the table: the number of immigrants welcomed annually, the selection process and favoured countries of origin, the importance of knowing French before arriving, French language courses, the recognition of training undertaken abroad, regionalization, and the sharing of common values.

The minister said she wanted a wide-reaching debate on the issues, and was "very open to everything that will be proposed."

Fifty stakeholders are expected to participate in public consultation hearings over the next few weeks on the future of immigration to Quebec. The province's current policy has been in place for 25 years.

A later consultation will also be held on two specific aspects of immigration: the number of immigrants Quebec wants to welcome every year and their countries of origin.

The emphasis, however, will be placed on the economy and balancing between the recruitment of new immigrants and workforce needs. Finding candidates that can fill empty jobs will be key, and on that point, Quebec is being inspired by Ottawa.

Last year, the federal government reformed its selection process for new immigrants. With the focus now primarily on filling jobs, every candidate for immigration to Canada must produce a "declaration of interest" showcasing his or her ability to meet employers' needs.

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Quebec considers major immigration reform