President Barack Obama is turning the focus of immigration frustration back on Republicans.
Speaking to a group of millennials in Santa Monica, California Thursday afternoon, Obama pounced on an opening given him when asked about encouraging more immigrants with technical skills to come to the U.S. Republicans, he said, need to be thinking about their own future.
"If they were thinking long-term politically, it is suicide for them not to do this because the demographics of the country are such where you are going to lose an entire generation of immigrants who are looking around and saying, 'You know what, that party does not seem to care much about me and my life,' " Obama said.
Earlier this month, a tweet from the account of House Speaker John Boehner said that if Obama grants "amnesty" through executive action "it will poison the well on immigration reform."
Obama's town hall was at Cross Campus, a place that brings together people who have launched startup companies and venture capitalists.
IN-DEPTH
- Report: Many Presidents Acted on Immigration
- Obama to Latinos: I Need You to Have My Back
- Can Obama CHCI Speech Rally Latino Vote?
--Suzanne Gamboa
