U.S. immigration reform policy at a crossroads as economy teeters

U.S. immigration is a vital element for America's economic prospects and must be prioritized, U.S. President Barack Obama reiterated in a speech at El Paso, Texas yesterday.

Speaking before an audience at the Chamizal National Memorial to commemorate an old border treaty with Mexico, Obama described U.S. immigration reform as an "economic imperative" that is key to job growth, competitiveness and prosperity.

"It's for this reason that businesses all across America are demanding that Washington finally meet its responsibility to solve the immigration problem," Obama said.

The President said talent, whether domestic or foreign, fuels the innovation and creation of jobs in the United States. He specified the examples of technology giants Intel, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo to drive home his point about the need to change U.S. immigration policy to take advantage of economic potential.

Next to issues like the killing of Osama Bin Laden and Pakistani relations, the debate over U.S. immigration reform has come center stage in the past few weeks as Obama tries to convince lawmakers to change outmoded U.S. immigration laws.

Obama was quick to remind everyone that his administration had already addressed earlier concerns by securing the border with Mexico and deporting criminals, but that Republicans just want to delay changes for as long as possible.

"Now they're going to say we need to quadruple the Border Patrol. Or they'll want a higher fence. Maybe they'll need a moat," Obama said. "Maybe they want alligators in the moat. They'll never be satisfied."

The Obama administration also wants to give illegal immigrants a chance to earn U.S. citizenship in the long-term. But efforts to revamp U.S. immigration laws have only been met with fierce opposition and further complicated by the rising gang-related violence along the border with Mexico.