On July Fourth Holiday, Obama Calls for Immigration Overhaul – Reuters

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama emphasized the importance of welcoming immigrants to the United States during his Independence Day address on Friday, making a compelling case for the need for a new immigration policy.

"We must fix our broken immigration system and enact common-sense immigration reform," Obama stated during a White House event honoring 25 foreign-born individuals who became U.S. citizens for their service in the military.

Obama is facing significant challenges in the ongoing immigration debate. His efforts to secure a comprehensive immigration overhaul this year suffered a setback when House Speaker John Boehner, the leading Republican, announced that there would be no vote in the House of Representatives.

At the southern U.S. border in Texas, the administration is grappling with an influx of tens of thousands of children from Central America. This surge has placed a strain on resources, prompting Republican critiques that Obama is inadequately addressing the situation.

These dual challenges have placed Obama in a complicated position. Although he has promised to undertake executive actions to facilitate the residency of undocumented individuals, he has also indicated that most of the recent migrants will be deported.

This stance has frustrated immigration advocacy groups that typically support him, viewing the new migrants as victims of gang violence in their home countries.

During his remarks at the East Room of the White House, Obama reiterated the belief that the nation would be weaker without the contributions of immigrants.

"The fundamental principle of welcoming immigrants to our shores is integral to our identity," he asserted. "It’s in our DNA… We must not make it more difficult for the best and brightest to come here."

Obama is scheduled to visit Texas next week for fundraising events aimed at supporting Democratic candidates in the upcoming November elections. However, White House spokesman Josh Earnest indicated that the president would not yield to Republican calls for him to visit the border.

During the White House ceremony, 25 individuals from 15 different countries, including Australia, Guatemala, the Philippines, and Ukraine, were granted citizenship.