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The success of President Barack Obama’s freshly signed deal to spare millions from deportation hinges on how well he sells it to Americans.
He’s counting on newly famous Las Vegan Astrid Silva to help.
“Part of what makes America exceptional is that we welcome exceptional people like Astrid,” he told a crowd of about 1,600 supporters who gathered at Del Sol High School on Friday.
The president’s afternoon announcement — introduced by Silva — was a rally for his divisive new policy, which faces staunch opposition from Republican lawmakers. The Nevada visit was one of several stops he’s making throughout the country to sell the deal. He’ll visit Chicago next.
Here’s what the president said today and what it means.
Obama stood by his decision, daring Congress to deliver an immigration reform bill if its members are unhappy with the executive action.
Obama laid out his argument for executive action in one succinct line: "The bottom line is mass amnesty would be unfair, but mass deportation would be both impossible and contrary to our country's character. What we are offering is accountability."
Obama challenged House Republicans to “pass a bill,” which the crowd then chanted.
Silva is the face of Obama’s new plan, and she’s already owned it.
Silva, a local activist who got a shoutout from Obama during his speech Thursday night unveiling the plan, introduced the president and shared her story about growing up as an undocumented immigrant in Las Vegas.
In a USA Today op-ed published this afternoon, Silva wrote about living in the shadows “with the Las Vegas Strip gleaming in the distance.”
“President Obama's bold action means that millions of families like mine will no longer live with the perpetual anxiety that they may not be together to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and holidays,” she wrote. “The president's administrative reforms are only a temporary fix, and we desperately need Congress to pass comprehensive immigration legislation that will grant permanent security to the millions of immigrant families who love this country and want to become citizens.”
The president is also facing criticism from pro-immigrant groups about the deal’s limitations.
A man tried to derail Friday’s speech, complaining about those who don’t qualify for relief. The crowd then tried to drown him out with chants of “Si se puede!”
Obama addressed the heckler and shifted the conversation back to Republicans, again daring them to come up with a legislative solution.