Mediaboss Marketing

December 30, 2014 11:06 AM EST

President Barack Obama shakes hands with people in the crowd following his remarks on immigration reform at Chamizal National Memorial Park in El Paso, Texas. May 10, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Last month, President Obama took action tofix our broken immigration system, including commonsense steps that will help secure the border, bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows, and make it easier for high-skilled immigrants and entrepreneurs to contribute to our economy.

Congress needs to pass comprehensive immigration reform to fully upgrade our immigration system, and the President has been clear he will continue to pursue bipartisan legislation to do that. But in the meantime, the President also issued a new directive for his Administration to continue to seek out ways to modernize and streamline our immigration system within existing authorities. This Presidential Memorandum directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to lead an effort across government, in consultation with stakeholders, to identify new actions that would:

These recommendations are due back to the President on March 22, and public input is essential. Thats why the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security recently released a Request for Information in the Federal Register, to give the public an opportunity to inform the Administrations next steps in modernizing our immigration system. Our goal is to ensure that we have thorough input from all stakeholders: employers, visa applicants, policy advocates, and the public at large.

We want to hear from you. What are the most important policy and operational changes that would improve the processing of visas at our embassies and consulates abroad, the processing of visa-related paperwork here in the United States, and the experience of visa-holders arriving at our ports of entry? What new actions would bolster protections for workers? What are the most effective ways to improve the system for immigration pathways based on family relationships, employment, humanitarian relief, and investment?

Please visit the full Request for Information to see the complete list of questions, along with instructions on how to submit your comments and recommendations by January 29, 2015. You may respond to any or all of the focused questions, or simply submit your general comments.

America needs a 21st century immigration system that supports a growing economy, and that lives up to our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. Acting within his legal authority, the President is taking important steps to fix our immigration system as much as he can, and we look forward to your recommendations for what improvements would make the biggest difference.

As the President acts, hell continue to work with Congress on a bipartisan bill -- like the one passed by the Senate more than a year ago -- that will provide a more comprehensive solution to fix our broken immigration system. In the meantime, we can continue to make significant improvements by following through on the Presidents actions, so I hope you will take this opportunity to weigh in with your recommendations.

Learn more:

Read the rest here:
What Additional Steps Can We Take to Improve Our Immigration System?

Joe Arpaio sues Obama over immigration order / Immigration Reform
Joe Arpaio sues Obama over immigration order Two self-proclaimed birthers lead the Republican pack, opting to take legal action against Pres. Obama #39;s executi...

By: MSNBC News

Read more:
Joe Arpaio sues Obama over immigration order / Immigration Reform - Video

Reaction to Immigration reform in the Midstate
Reported by: Lara Greenberg HARRISBURG, Pa. Its a battle over the borders. President Obama is using executive order to kick start his new immigration po...

By: Local 21 CBS 21 News WHP Harrisburg

The rest is here:
Reaction to Immigration reform in the Midstate - Video

John McCain `This Week`: Pleased With Bipartisan Immigration Progress, Expects Citizenship Pat
all current on our channel everything new on our channel, watch and subscribe Sen. McCain discusses immigration reform and foreign policy challenges. everything new on our channel, watch...

By: meva sibrun

See the original post here:
John McCain `This Week`: Pleased With Bipartisan Immigration Progress, Expects Citizenship Pat - Video

Published December 27, 2014

Feb 7. 2011: President Obama is greeted by Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue as he arrives to address the crowd in Washington. (Reuters)

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce flexed its muscle in the midterm election, winning 14 of 15 Republican primaries in which it was involved and helping the GOP recapture the Senate. Now it wants the Republican majority in Congress to get to work.

Chamber Chief Executive Tom Donohue said in an interview that the GOP has two years to enact a vigorous program aimed at meeting the needs of the American people or risk losing their majority. The Chamber wants Congress to act on business priorities such as an immigration overhaul, transportation funding, tax breaks and trade agreements.

Mr. Donohue warned lawmakers to move beyond intraparty skirmishes and partisan bickering that paralyzed the last Congress, hinting that his group might look to oust lawmakers who try to derail the legislative process.

The Chamber played a central role in the midterm campaigns, spending more than $70 million, according to an official. After backing a number of losing candidates in 2012, the goal for the groupand the Republican partyin 2014 was to nominate candidates with the best prospects of winning a general election, and an aptitude to govern once they arrived in Washington.

We had candidates who were fundamentally more interested in turning over the apple cart than they were in governing, Mr. Donohue said of the congressional elections in 2010 and 2012.

Of 268 candidates the Chamber endorsed in the 2014 election, 249 won, including 22 in the 30 most contested races in which the group was involved. In the eyes of Mr. Donohue and other Chamber officials, the results sent a clear message: People want Congress and the Senate to govern, Mr. Donohue said. They want them to be competent.

Polls support that view. Public-opinion surveys taken before and after the election showed a much higher share of the electorate wanted to see lawmakers compromise than in 2010, when the tea-party wave swept Republicans to power in the House.

Click for more from The Wall Street Journal.

Read the original:
US Chamber of Commerce to push immigration reform, tax ...