2013-05-03 09:01:55

Obama pledges immigration reform on Mexico trip


(Vatican Radio) United States President Barack Obama, who is on the last day of his visit to Mexico City, has been making pledges about comprehensive immigration reform, drug war cooperation and gun legislation reform on his side of the border.

Standing beside Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in the courtyard of the National Palace in downtown Mexico City, Obama explained that a framework for comprehensive immigration is shaping up in U.S. Congress.

“If we're going to get that done, now is the time to do it and the bill that Senator Rubio and others put forward I think is a great place to start,” he said.

Obama congratulated Mexico on its evolving response to the drug war, pledging cooperation with full respect to sovereignty.

“We support the Mexican government’s focus on reducing violence and we look forward to continuing our good cooperation in any way that the Mexican government deems appropriate,” he said.

“I also reaffirm our determination in the United States and our responsibility to reduce the demand for illegal drugs and to combat the southbound flow of illegal guns and cash that help to fuel violence,” he added.

He also promised he would not give up on gun reform legislation on his side of the border.

“I believe that eventually we’re going to get that done. And I’m going to keep on trying. But I just want to be clear that we’re going to keep at this. One thing I am is persistent,” he said.

Obama was scheduled to give a keynote speech in the capitol’s National Anthropology Museum on Friday morning, before heading off to Costa Rica.

Listen to the report by James Blears: RealAudioMP3








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