Journalist Jorge Ramos, of the Hispanic TV network Univisión, confronted the Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner and questioned him on his refusal to approve a law reform on immigration matters this year, upsetting the Ohio Republican.
During his weekly press conference, the Speaker of the House of Representatives was directly accused by Ramos of "blocking" the immigration reform approved a little less than a year ago by the Senate.
"Speaker Boehner, we have come here to ask you why you're blocking the immigration reform, it's been almost a year since the Senate approve it," said the journalist, assuring that as Speaker of the House, Boehner can submit the S744 Law Project, approved last June, to a vote, and hasn't done so.
Surprised, Boehner said that Republicans don't trust that President Obama will make the agreements approved in the immigration law effective, citing the lack of commitment that the White House has showed to properly enforce the reforms to healthcare approved during Obama's term, better known as "Obamacare".
Boehner replied that the subject of the Immigration Reform has been on the table for the past 18 months, since the day after the 2012 presidential elections, adding that precisely he is the one most interested in seeing a reform to immigration matters.
"The fact is that Congress has to do something about it and I've made clear that we're not going to deal with the Senate version," he said to the journalist. "I believe that the way to do it is to go point by point, in a way that makes sense," he added, repeating the responsibility of the President in said problem.
"Thirty-eight unilateral delays (of Obamacare) reduced the American people's trust on his disposition to put an immigration law into practice however it's approved."
Facing Ramos' insistence and the question regarding the relation between the application of the healthcare reform and immigration reform, the Republican simply said that he had given an answer to the matter, also saying that he respected the idea and position of the journalist.
An immigration reform project was approved by the Senate on June 27, 2013 and was sent to the House of Representatives to be analyzed and approved. The House Republicans have blocked the reform, insisting that there are many points that do not provide a solution to the immigration issue in the country.
Project S744 includes a path towards citizenship for 11 million immigrants in the United States, and a revision of security investment for the border with Mexico. Both Obama and Democrats have pressured the House of Representatives to approve an immigration reform before the midterm election period. However, refusals from Republicans darken the horizon and might keep Obama from fulfilling his campaign promises made to the Latino community, which in great measure made his reelection possible.
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