Obama_NN1 to_II Push_NN1 Immigration_NN1 Bill_NN1 as_CSA One_MC1 Priority_NN1 While_CS acknowledging_VVG that_CST the_AT recession_NN1 makes_VVZ the_AT political_JJ battle_NN1 more_RGR difficult_JJ ,_, President_NNB Obama_NP1 plans_VVZ to_TO begin_VVI addressing_VVG the_AT country_NN1 's_GE immigration_NN1 system_NN1 this_DD1 year_NNT1 ,_, including_II looking_VVG for_IF a_AT1 path_NN1 for_IF illegal_JJ immigrants_NN2 to_TO become_VVI legal_JJ ,_, a_AT1 senior_JJ administration_NN1 official_NN1 said_VVD on_II Wednesday_NPD1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 will_VM frame_VVI the_AT new_JJ effort_NN1 --_JJ likely_JJ to_TO rouse_VVI passions_NN2 on_II all_DB sides_NN2 of_IO the_AT highly_RR divisive_JJ issue_NN1 --_NN1 as_CSA "_" policy_NN1 reform_NN1 that_CST controls_VVZ immigration_NN1 and_CC makes_VVZ it_PPH1 an_AT1 orderly_JJ system_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD the_AT official_NN1 ,_, Cecilia_NP1 Munoz_NP1 ,_, deputy_NN1 assistant_NN1 to_II the_AT president_NN1 and_CC director_NN1 of_IO intergovernmental_JJ affairs_NN2 in_II the_AT White_NP1 House_NN1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 plans_VVZ to_TO speak_VVI publicly_RR about_II the_AT issue_NN1 in_II May_NPM1 ,_, administration_NN1 officials_NN2 said_VVD ,_, and_CC over_II the_AT summer_NNT1 he_PPHS1 will_VM convene_VVI working_VVG groups_NN2 ,_, including_II lawmakers_NN2 from_II both_DB2 parties_NN2 and_CC a_AT1 range_NN1 of_IO immigration_NN1 groups_NN2 ,_, to_TO begin_VVI discussing_VVG possible_JJ legislation_NN1 for_IF as_RG early_RR as_CSA this_DD1 fall_NN1 ._. 
Some_DD White_NP1 House_NN1 officials_NN2 said_VVD that_DD1 immigration_NN1 would_VM not_XX take_VVI precedence_NN1 over_II the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 and_CC energy_NN1 proposals_NN2 that_CST Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 has_VHZ identified_VVN as_CSA priorities_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT timetable_NN1 is_VBZ consistent_JJ with_IW pledges_NN2 Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 made_VVD to_II Hispanic_JJ groups_NN2 in_II last_MD year_NNT1 's_GE campaign_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD then_RT that_CST comprehensive_JJ immigration_NN1 legislation_NN1 ,_, including_II a_AT1 plan_NN1 to_TO make_VVI legal_JJ status_NN1 possible_JJ for_IF an_AT1 estimated_JJ 12_MC million_NNO illegal_JJ immigrants_NN2 ,_, would_VM be_VBI a_AT1 priority_NN1 in_II his_APPGE first_MD year_NNT1 in_II office_NN1 ._. 
Latino_NN1 voters_NN2 turned_VVD out_RP strongly_RR for_IF Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 in_II the_AT election_NN1 ._. 
"_" He_PPHS1 intends_VVZ to_TO start_VVI the_AT debate_NN1 this_DD1 year_NNT1 ,_, "_" Ms._NNB Munoz_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
But_CCB with_IW the_AT economy_NN1 seriously_RR ailing_JJ ,_, advocates_NN2 on_II different_JJ sides_NN2 of_IO the_AT debate_NN1 said_VVD that_DD1 immigration_NN1 could_VM become_VVI a_AT1 polarizing_JJ issue_NN1 for_IF Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 in_II a_AT1 year_NNT1 when_RRQ he_PPHS1 has_VHZ many_DA2 other_JJ major_JJ battles_NN2 to_TO fight_VVI ._. 
Opponents_NN2 ,_, mainly_RR Republicans_NN2 ,_, say_VV0 they_PPHS2 will_VM seek_VVI to_TO mobilize_VVI popular_JJ outrage_NN1 against_II any_DD effort_NN1 to_TO legalize_VVI unauthorized_JJ immigrant_JJ workers_NN2 while_CS so_RG many_DA2 Americans_NN2 are_VBR out_II21 of_II22 jobs_NN2 ._. 
Democratic_JJ legislative_JJ aides_NN2 said_VVD that_CST opening_VVG a_AT1 full-fledged_JJ debate_NN1 this_DD1 year_NNT1 on_II immigration_NN1 ,_, particularly_RR with_IW health_NN1 care_NN1 as_II a_AT1 looming_JJ priority_NN1 ,_, could_VM weigh_VVI down_RP the_AT president_NN1 's_GE domestic_JJ agenda_NN1 ._. 
Debate_NN1 is_VBZ still_RR under_RR21 way_RR22 among_II administration_NN1 officials_NN2 about_II the_AT precise_JJ timing_NN1 and_CC strategy_NN1 ._. 
For_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ unclear_JJ who_PNQS will_VM take_VVI up_RP the_AT Obama_NP1 initiative_NN1 in_II Congress_NN1 ._. 
No_AT serious_JJ legislative_JJ talks_NN2 on_II the_AT issue_NN1 are_VBR expected_VVN until_CS after_CS some_DD of_IO Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 's_GE other_JJ priorities_NN2 have_VH0 been_VBN debated_VVN ,_, Congressional_JJ aides_NN2 said_VVD ._. 
Just_RR last_MD month_NNT1 ,_, Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 openly_RR recognized_VVN that_DD1 immigration_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 potential_JJ minefield_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 know_VV0 this_DD1 is_VBZ an_AT1 emotional_JJ issue_NN1 ;_; I_PPIS1 know_VV0 it_PPH1 's_VBZ a_AT1 controversial_JJ issue_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 told_VVD an_AT1 audience_NN1 at_II a_AT1 town_NN1 meeting_VVG on_II March_NPM1 18_MC in_II Costa_NP1 Mesa_NP1 ,_, Calif_NP1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 know_VV0 that_CST the_AT people_NN get_VV0 real_JJ riled_VVD up_RP politically_RR about_II this_DD1 ._. "_" 
But_CCB ,_, he_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, immigrants_NN2 who_PNQS are_VBR long-time_JJ residents_NN2 but_CCB lack_VV0 legal_JJ status_NN1 "_" have_VH0 to_TO have_VHI some_DD mechanism_NN1 over_II time_NNT1 to_TO get_VVI out_II21 of_II22 the_AT shadows_NN2 ._. "_" 
The_AT White_NP1 House_NN1 is_VBZ calculating_VVG that_DD1 public_JJ support_NN1 for_IF fixing_VVG the_AT immigration_NN1 system_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ is_VBZ widely_RR acknowledged_VVN to_TO be_VBI broken_VVN ,_, will_VM outweigh_VVI opposition_NN1 from_II voters_NN2 who_PNQS argue_VV0 that_CST immigrants_NN2 take_VV0 jobs_NN2 from_II Americans_NN2 ._. 
A_AT1 groundswell_NN1 among_II voters_NN2 opposed_VVN to_II legal_JJ status_NN1 for_IF illegal_JJ immigrants_NN2 led_VVN to_II the_AT defeat_NN1 in_II 2007_MC of_IO a_AT1 bipartisan_JJ immigration_NN1 bill_NN1 that_CST was_VBDZ strongly_RR supported_VVN by_II President_NNB George_NP1 W._NP1 Bush_NP1 ._. 
Administration_NN1 officials_NN2 said_VVD that_CST Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 's_GE plan_NN1 would_VM not_XX add_VVI new_JJ workers_NN2 to_II the_AT American_JJ work_NN1 force_NN1 ,_, but_CCB that_CST it_PPH1 would_VM recognize_VVI millions_NNO2 of_IO illegal_JJ immigrants_NN2 who_PNQS have_VH0 already_RR been_VBN working_VVG here_RL ._. 
Despite_II the_AT deep_JJ recession_NN1 ,_, there_EX is_VBZ no_AT evidence_NN1 of_IO any_DD wholesale_JJ exodus_NN1 of_IO illegal_JJ immigrant_JJ workers_NN2 ,_, independent_JJ studies_NN2 of_IO census_NN1 data_NN show_VV0 ._. 
Opponents_NN2 of_IO legalization_NN1 legislation_NN1 were_VBDR incredulous_JJ at_II the_AT idea_NN1 that_CST Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 would_VM take_VVI on_RP immigration_NN1 when_CS economic_JJ pain_NN1 for_IF Americans_NN2 is_VBZ so_RG widespread_JJ ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 just_RR does_VDZ n't_XX seem_VVI rational_JJ that_CST any_DD political_JJ leader_NN1 would_VM say_VVI ,_, let_VM21 's_VM22 give_VVI millions_NNO2 of_IO foreign_JJ workers_NN2 permanent_JJ access_NN1 to_II U.S._NP1 jobs_NN2 when_CS we_PPIS2 have_VH0 millions_NNO2 of_IO Americans_NN2 looking_VVG for_IF jobs_NN2 ,_, "_" said_VVD Roy_NP1 Beck_NP1 ,_, executive_NN1 director_NN1 of_IO NumbersUSA_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 group_NN1 that_CST favors_VVZ reduced_JJ immigration_NN1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Beck_NP1 predicted_VVD that_CST Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 would_VM face_VVI "_" an_AT1 explosion_NN1 "_" if_CS he_PPHS1 proceeded_VVD this_DD1 year_NNT1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 's_VBZ going_VVGK to_TO be_VBI ,_, 'You_NNU 're_VBR letting_VVG them_PPHO2 keep_VVI that_DD1 job_NN1 ,_, when_CS I_PPIS1 could_VM have_VHI that_DD1 job_NN1 ,_, '_" "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
In_II broad_JJ outlines_NN2 ,_, officials_NN2 said_VVD ,_, the_AT Obama_NP1 administration_NN1 favors_VVZ legislation_NN1 that_CST would_VM bring_VVI illegal_JJ immigrants_NN2 into_II the_AT legal_JJ system_NN1 by_II recognizing_VVG that_CST they_PPHS2 violated_VVD the_AT law_NN1 ,_, and_CC imposing_JJ fines_NN2 and_CC other_JJ penalties_NN2 to_TO fit_VVI the_AT offense_NN1 ._. 
The_AT legislation_NN1 would_VM seek_VVI to_TO prevent_VVI future_JJ illegal_JJ immigration_NN1 by_II strengthening_VVG border_NN1 enforcement_NN1 and_CC cracking_VVG down_RP on_II employers_NN2 who_PNQS hire_VV0 illegal_JJ immigrants_NN2 ,_, while_CS creating_VVG a_AT1 national_JJ system_NN1 for_IF verifying_VVG the_AT legal_JJ immigration_NN1 status_NN1 of_IO new_JJ workers_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB administration_NN1 officials_NN2 emphasized_VVD that_CST many_DA2 details_NN2 remained_VVD to_TO be_VBI debated_VVN ._. 
Opponents_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 legalization_NN1 effort_NN1 said_VVD that_CST if_CS the_AT Obama_NP1 administration_NN1 maintained_VVD the_AT enforcement_NN1 pressure_NN1 initiated_VVN by_II Mr._NNB Bush_NP1 ,_, the_AT recession_NN1 would_VM force_VVI many_DA2 illegal_JJ immigrants_NN2 to_TO return_VVI home_RL ._. 
Dan_NP1 Stein_NP1 ,_, the_AT president_NN1 of_IO the_AT Federation_NN1 for_IF American_JJ Immigration_NN1 Reform_NN1 ,_, said_VVD it_PPH1 would_VM be_VBI "_" politically_RR disastrous_JJ "_" for_IF Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 to_TO begin_VVI an_AT1 immigration_NN1 initiative_NN1 at_II this_DD1 time_NNT1 ._. 
Anticipating_VVG opposition_NN1 ,_, Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 has_VHZ sought_VVN to_TO shift_VVI some_DD of_IO the_AT political_JJ burden_NN1 to_II advocates_NN2 for_IF immigrants_NN2 ,_, by_II encouraging_VVG them_PPHO2 to_TO build_VVI support_NN1 among_II voters_NN2 for_IF when_RRQ his_APPGE proposal_NN1 goes_VVZ to_II Congress_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 is_VBZ why_RRQ Representative_JJ Luis_NP1 V._II Gutierrez_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 Democrat_NN1 from_II Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 's_GE hometown_NN1 ,_, Chicago_NP1 ,_, has_VHZ been_VBN on_II the_AT road_NN1 most_DAT weekends_NNT2 since_CS last_MD December_NPM1 ,_, traveling_VVG far_RR outside_II his_APPGE district_NN1 to_II meetings_NN2 in_II Hispanic_JJ churches_NN2 ,_, hoping_VVG to_TO generate_VVI something_PN1 like_II a_AT1 civil_JJ rights_NN2 movement_NN1 in_II31 favor_II32 of_II33 broad_JJ immigration_NN1 legislation_NN1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Gutierrez_NP1 was_VBDZ in_II Philadelphia_NP1 on_II Saturday_NPD1 at_II the_AT Iglesia_NP1 Internacional_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 big_JJ Hispanic_JJ evangelical_JJ church_NN1 in_II a_AT1 former_DA warehouse_NN1 ,_, the_AT 17th_MD meeting_NN1 in_II a_AT1 tour_NN1 that_CST has_VHZ included_VVN cities_NN2 as_CSA far_RR flung_VVN as_CSA Providence_NP1 ,_, R.I._NP1 ;_; Atlanta_NP1 ;_; Miami_NP1 ;_; and_CC San_NP1 Francisco_NP1 ._. 
Greeted_VVN with_IW cheers_NN2 and_CC amens_VVZ by_II a_AT1 full_JJ house_NN1 of_IO about_RG 350_MC people_NN ,_, Mr._NNB Gutierrez_NP1 ,_, shifting_VVG fluidly_RR between_II Spanish_JJ and_CC English_NN1 ,_, called_VVN for_IF immigration_NN1 policies_NN2 to_TO preserve_VVI family_NN1 unity_NN1 ,_, the_AT strategic_JJ theme_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE campaign_NN1 ._. 
At_II each_DD1 meeting_NN1 ,_, speakers_NN2 from_II the_AT community_NN1 ,_, mainly_RR citizens_NN2 ,_, tell_VV0 stories_NN2 of_IO loved_JJ ones_NN2 who_PNQS were_VBDR deported_VVN or_CC of_IO delays_NN2 and_CC setbacks_NN2 in_II the_AT immigration_NN1 system_NN1 ._. 
Illegal_JJ immigrants_NN2 have_VH0 not_XX been_VBN invited_VVN to_TO speak_VVI ._. 
Mr._NNB Gutierrez_NP1 's_GE meetings_NN2 have_VH0 all_RR been_VBN held_VVN in_II churches_NN2 ,_, both_RR evangelical_JJ and_CC Roman_JJ Catholic_NN1 ,_, with_IW clergy_NN2 members_NN2 from_II various_JJ denominations_NN2 ,_, including_VVG in_II several_DA2 places_NN2 Muslim_JJ imams_NN2 ._. 
At_II one_MC1 meeting_NN1 in_II Chicago_NP1 ,_, Cardinal_NNB Francis_NP1 George_NP1 ,_, president_NN1 of_IO the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 Conference_NN1 of_IO Catholic_JJ Bishops_NN2 ,_, officiated_VVD ._. 
One_MC1 speaker_NN1 on_II Saturday_NPD1 ,_, Jill_NP1 Flores_FW ,_, said_VVD that_CST her_APPGE husband_NN1 ,_, Felix_NP1 ,_, an_AT1 immigrant_NN1 from_II Mexico_NP1 who_PNQS crossed_VVD the_AT border_NN1 illegally_RR ,_, had_VHD applied_VVN for_IF legal_JJ status_NN1 five_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA but_CCB had_VHD not_XX been_VBN able_JK to_TO gain_VVI it_PPH1 even_CS21 though_CS22 she_PPHS1 is_VBZ an_AT1 American_JJ citizen_NN1 ,_, as_CSA are_VBR their_APPGE two_MC children_NN2 ._. 
Now_RT ,_, Ms._NNB Flores_FW said_VVD ,_, she_PPHS1 fears_VVZ that_CST her_APPGE husband_NN1 will_VM have_VHI to_TO leave_VVI for_IF Mexico_NP1 and_CC will_VM not_XX be_VBI permitted_VVN to_TO return_VVI for_IF many_DA2 years_NNT2 ._. 
In_II an_AT1 interview_NN1 ,_, Mr._NNB Gutierrez_NP1 rejected_VVD the_AT idea_NN1 that_CST the_AT timing_NN1 is_VBZ bad_JJ for_IF an_AT1 immigration_NN1 debate_NN1 ._. 
"_" There_EX is_VBZ never_RR a_AT1 wrong_JJ time_NNT1 for_IF us_PPIO2 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" Families_NN2 are_VBR being_VBG divided_VVN and_CC destroyed_VVN ,_, and_CC they_PPHS2 need_VV0 help_NN1 now_RT ._. "_" 
