WASHINGTON, June 24 (Xinhua) -- As comprehensive immigration reform enters its crucial week in the U.S. Senate, President Barack Obama on Monday met with business leaders at the White House, trying to rally their support for the reform.
According to the White House, Obama met with CEOs, business owners and entrepreneurs to discuss the importance of immigration reform, including the Congressional Budget Office analysis that concludes immigration reform would "promote economic growth and reduce the deficit." Attendees included Steve Case, chairman and CEO of Revolution LLc, Jason Berry, owner of Blueberry Farms of Georgia and Berry Farms.
During the meeting, Obama said the reform is "at a critical point in the debate that's taking place in the Senate," stressing immigration is "a contributor to growth, a contributor to expansion, a creator of jobs," and calling the current system " broken".
"All of us I think recognize that now is the time to get comprehensive immigration reform done," said Obama, adding business leaders are "going to be talking to various senators and members of Congress over the next several days," to push them in the path of reform.
The final votes on the immigration reform bill is expected to take place in the Senate toward the end of the week. But even if passed, the bill's fate in the House of Representatives is still unclear.
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