President Obama arrived yesterday in Nashville to meet with immigrant advocates at Casa Azafran, a community center on Nolensville Road, and deliver remarks on the executive immigration measures that he first announced on November 20, 2014. In his speech, the President praised Nashville as a welcoming home to one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in the United States, accounting for more than half of Nashville’s growth since 2000, and as a bright example of successful city-wide policies and initiatives to encourage immigrant integration. Mr. Obama reiterated his resolve to use his executive powers to implement a common sense middle-ground approach focused at allowing families with already established strong ties to the United States to live without fear of being deported while at the same time redoubling his administration’s efforts to increase border security and apprehend and remove dangerous foreign national criminals. In response to concerns over the temporary nature of his measures, the President expressed his strong conviction that any future administration would not overturn his executive measures because the American people overwhelmingly support a fair and humane immigration system.
Mr. Obama explained that the United States is a nation of immigrants and that keeping our doors open to immigrants is what makes America great. He said:
We welcome strivers, we welcome dream makers from all over the world. It keeps us young, it keeps us striving, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible…. And then we all bind ourselves together around similar ideals.
Whether one looks at immigration from a historical, economic or even a purely moral value angle, our nation has always been welcoming to honest, hard-working foreign nationals who are eager to contribute to our society and be a part of the American dream. Mr. Obama emphasized that economies with younger workforces grow faster than economies with older workforces, and that our willingness to continuously replenish and supplement the U.S. workforce with immigrants has historically propelled our economy to its leadership position. The President urged all foreign nationals who qualify under the new executive measures to step forward and in doing so show the American people that they are willing to take responsibility and become regular members of our society. He also underscored the importance of local community outreach efforts to educate the public and get people involved.
See here for additional media coverage about the President’s visit to Nashville