President Barack Obama says this is the moment to pass immigration reform.

 

President Barack Obama (R) speaks at an event on immigration reform with Vice President Joe Biden (L) in the East Room of the White House
President Barack Obama (R) speaks at an event on immigration reform with Vice President Joe Biden (L) in the East Room of the White House (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Obama says now that the partial government shutdown is over, Republicans and Democrats should be able to work together to fix what he called "a broken immigration system."

The president said in remarks from the White House East Room Thursday morning that he wants Congress to act on immigration before the end of the year.

House Speaker John Boehner (BAY'-nur) says he's optimistic the House could act on immigration by year's end. But it's not certain that Republicans will support the comprehensive approach Obama is seeking.

The Senate passed a wide-ranging bill in June with bipartisan support, but the measure stalled in the House. Most House Republicans want a piece-by-piece approach.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

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