Fate of US illegal immigrants hangs in balance

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Fate of US illegal immigrants hangs in balance

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President Barack Obama has called a high-profile meeting to discuss immigration reform.

19 April,2011 07:51 pm

President Barack Obama has marshalled a high-profile meeting in an attempt to show wide and varied support for an overhaul of America’s immigration laws.Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, who also served as Washington DC, police chief, will attend the meeting.Obama has been criticised by Latino and immigration activists and Spanish-language media for failing to take up immigration in his first term. He has been consistently reminded of his campaign promise to address immigration early in his administration.Although Obama has repeatedly said he is committed to immigration overhaul, the deportation of a record 393,000 immigrants last year and other enforcement tactics during his administration have drawn criticism in the immigrant and Hispanic communities.According to US government estimates, at least 20 million illegal immigrants are living in the country and these immigrants have sent $255 billion to their countries since 2001.Reform in the immigration policy is vital because illegal immigrants don’t pay taxes and there is no record of their incomes, instead the state spends billions of dollars for their welfare. However, immigration laws were not softened due to opposition of American citizens.