Obama: Time to fix our immigration system PRESIDENT Barack Obama says Democrats and Republicans in congress want to overhaul immigration laws and calls on them to pass legislation this year. In his State of the Union address, Obama says it is time to heed the calls to change immigration laws from business and labor leaders, religious leaders and law enforcement officials. The senate passed broad legislation last year that enhances border security and provides a path to citizenship for about 11 immigrants in the United States illegally. Among the proposals under consideration by house Republican leaders is one that would give legal status to illegal immigrants but not citizenship. The White House has said Obama wants the legislation to lead to citizenship. But he did not make that demand Tuesday night.