Hi, everybody. Today, I'm at Del Sol High School, in Las Vegas, to talk with students and families about immigration; (20) We are a nation of immigrants. It has always given America a big advantage over other nations. It keeps our country young, dynamic, and entrepreneurial. But today, our immigration system is broken, and everybody
knows it. That's why, nearly two years ago, I came to this school and laid out principles for immigration reform. And five months later, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in the Senate came together to pass a commonsense compromise bill. (21) That bill would have secured our border, while giving undocumented immigrants who already live here a pathway to citizenship if they paid a fine, started paying their taxes, and went to the back of the line.independent experts said it would grow our economy, and shrink our deficits. Now, had the House of Representatives
allowed a yes-or-no vote on that kind of bill, it would have passed with support from both parties. Today it would be the law. But for a year and a half, Republican leaders in the House have refused to allow that simple vote. Now, I still believe that the best way to solve this problem is by working together-both parties-to pass that kind of bipartisan law.We're providing more resources at the border to help law enforcement personnel stop illegal crossings, and send home those who do cross over. (22) We'll focus enforcement resources on people who are threats to our securit y felons,not families; criminals, not children. And we'll bring more undocumented immigrants out of the shadows, so they can play by the rules, pay their full share of taxes, pass a criminal background check, and get right with the law. Nothing
about this action will benefit anyone who has come to this country recently, or who might try and come to America illegally in the future. It's important for our future. It's about who we are, and the future we want to build. What makes us Americans is our shared commitment to an ideal-that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will. That's the country we inherited, and it's the one we have to leave for future generations.
 How does being a nation of immigrants benefit America?