President Obama is holding a campaign style event in Las Vegas, a state where Latinos make up about 27% of the population, on immigration reform. The president’s speech comes after a bipartisan group of senator unveiled their immigration plan during a press conference on Monday. President Obama is expected to include a faster pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, but in large endorse the group’s proposals.
The immigration reform plan follows a 2012 election where President Obama won an overwhelming majority, 71%, of the Latino community, according to the 2012 exit polls. While the latest bipartisan effort could provide a boost to the party, some House GOP members are giving it both thumbs up. Our country was born on immigrants and according to a PEW Research poll, by 2050 82% of the U.S. growth will be from immigrations and their descendants. But how important is this issue to the American people? A recent CNN/ORC poll shows 53% want a path to legal residency for illegal immigrants already in the U.S. A Gallup poll shows that 66% say that immigration is a good thing for country.
What do you hope to hear from President Obama during his speech today? Let us know on our Facebook page and be sure to tune in at 3 p.m. for the lead up conversation to President Obama’s speech.
Abby Borovitz