WASHINGTON — For the first time since taking office, President Barack Obama is diving into the thorny details of the country’s long-running immigration battles, summoning lawmakers to the White House this week for what aides say will be an “honest discussion of the issues.”
The meeting is highly anticipated by Latino leaders and immigrant advocates eager for Obama to honor his campaign promise to put millions of undocumented workers on a “pathway to citizenship.” But many Democrats are concluding that they might not have the muscle to pass such a controversial measure.
And even though Obama used a Hispanic prayer breakfast Friday to reiterate his intention to pass an immigration plan during his presidency, this week’s gathering demonstrates how the White House and congressional leaders are trying to strike a careful balance.
They seek to assuage Latino voters, who are a key constituency, while avoiding specific promises on timing and substance and trying not to antagonize independent voters who might have a skeptical view of legalization.
The biggest obstacle to speedy passage of a citizenship plan, according to interviews with lawmakers and Capitol Hill strategists, is the House. Democrats hold a wide majority there, but at least 40 members represent moderate or conservative swing districts where legalization plans are unpopular and often derided as “amnesty” for lawbreakers.
“This is a very, very difficult issue,” said Rep. Jason Altmire, a Pennsylvania Democrat. “The Democratic Party is doing everything they can to capture this very fast-growing community, and I understand that. But I’m not in that camp.”
The White House has downplayed expectations for this week’s meeting, careful to point out that Obama wants to merely begin the debate. He is not promising that a plan will be passed this year. Some Latino leaders argue that failing to pass the measure this year would violate the pledge Obama laid out last year.
