Obama: ‘No, Both Sides Aren’t to Blame for Broken Immigration System’

by John Paul Brammer

Obama’s town hall meeting with Telemundo’s José Díaz-Balart saw the president the way we like him best: confident and in control.

The best example of this would be when Obama shut down the “both Democrats and Republicans are at fault” rhetoric when it comes to our broken immigration system.

Obama shutting down “Both sides are wrong!” rhetoric. Nope. Blockage of reform is on one side. #ObamaTownHall #ObamaResponde
— John Paul (@jpbrammer) February 26, 2015

Answering a question from Díaz-Balart on both parties’ roles on the failure to pass an immigration bill through Congress, Obama reminded him and the audience which party has been holding up the process, saying, “The blockage has been very specific on one side:

The Democratic Party has been consistent. A few Republicans have supported it, but let’s be clear, the reason why we don’t have a bill is because [House Speaker] John Boehner wouldn’t call a vote.”

Obama reminding us that Republicans have made executive orders on immigration as well. http://t.co/XdZXaYHSF3 #ObamaTownHall #ObamaResponde
— John Paul (@jpbrammer) February 26, 2015

Much of Obama’s town hall was dedicated to defending the legality of his executive order last November that temporarily provided relief to thousands of families living in the United States.

But Obama also reminded the audience that unless a bill gets passed, the fix is indeed temporary:

“In order for us to get absolute certainty that it’s gonna be permanent and not just temporary, that it doesn’t just last during my administration and then get reversed by the next president, we’ve gotta pass a bill.”

In that sense, the town hall meeting served its purpose. The pressure is on for Republicans to step up and put a bill in front of Obama. Until then, the president says he is doing what he can to help as many as he can.