02 December 2008

Obama likely to put immigration secondary to economy

Immigrant rights groups in America are calling for Barack Obama to make immigration his top priority in his first year as President; however, experts suggest the President-elect would focus on the economic crisis before addressing any other issues, reports The Dallas Morning News.

Sean Theriault, an associate professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin, said the economy would be the primary concern of the new American President, and not American immigration issues.

"The economy is going to be Obama's first, second, third, fourth and fifth priority," he said.

Mr Obama said he would work with immigration officials at the southern border and major ports of entry to clamp down on illegal immigration to America, but a spokesperson from the new Obama team will not comment on when this would come to fruition. 

However, Angela Kelley, executive director of the Immigration Policy Center said the elected President would maintain his promises to the immigrant communities in America.  She added, Mr Obama is likely to introduce legislative change to the immigration system within his first term that would allow for the number of guest workers' American visas to increase, the strengthening of border security, and pathways to citizenship for long-time illegal immigrants. 


The American Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in American visa and immigration services.

Article by Jessica Bird, American Visa Bureau.


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