Michelle Obama speaks immigration and healthcare to Hispanic Caucus

Michelle Obama received a standing ovation at the Hispanic Caucus meeting Wednesday when she said that immigrants must be allowed to emerge from the shadows.

“In the world as it should be, we have an immigration policy that brings 12 million people out of the shadows and puts them on the path to citizenship—and no communities live in fear of the next ICE immigration raid,” she said.

How and what that would look like remains to be seen but that she addressed immigration, healthcare and education, all issues critical to the Latino community made an impact on those who were at the meeting.

California delegate Kathleen Calzada said Obama’s points were on target with the concerns of the Latino community. That message has to continue through the general election to win Latino votes.

“Immigration reform is very important,” said Calzada, whose husband is Mexican immigrant in the process of applying for citizenship. “I’m concerned about families and ICE and how they can’t tell the difference between citizens and others.”

Obama spoke to the caucus along with Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and former Denver Mayor and Clinton Cabinet Member Federico Pena.

Obama stressed that Barack Obama and the Hispanic community share vision and values and a need for change.

In “the world as it should be - as Michelle Obama described to the Caucus members and guests - no parent should risk losing their job to care for their sick child, every child would get a world-class public education and go to college, and healthcare would be accessible to everyone.

“We all know that our country’s journey toward equality is not yet finished” she said. “But this week, we celebrate how far we’ve come—and how deep our shared capacity is to break through any barriers that stand in the way of our progress as a nation.”

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