The Los Angeles Times has reported that President Obama believes immigration reform is unlikely this year and that it must wait until 2010. Although promises of immigration reform during his first year in office were made during the campaign—and high-ranking legislators predicted reform could occur in 2009—current pressing matters, such as economic recovery and healthcare reform, have forced the administration to reprioritize. The delay is upsetting to advocates who suggest that immigration reform will not be as complex and time-consuming as the administration appears to believe.

President Obama made his statement about immigration reform while in Mexico meeting with his NAFTA counterparts, Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Other topics discussed at the meetings were the “Buy American” provisions of the stimulus package and the United States’ restrictions on Mexican truckers.