Obama: Border bill is on table for 2010

President Obama on Monday made his strongest commitment yet to pushing comprehensive immigration legislation through Congress after healthcare, climate change and financial regulation bills are approved.

In remarks in Guadalajara, Mexico, at the conclusion of the annual summit of leaders from the United States, Mexico and Canada, Obama said talks with congressional leaders have started on the topic, and he wants to pick up the pace by the end of the year.

He predicted a bruising battle and dismissed the suggestion that his waning popularity might affect the timing of taking on such a divisive issue.

"Am I going to be able to snap my fingers and get this done? No," he said. "This is going to be difficult. It is going to require bipartisan cooperation. There are going to be demagogues out there who try to suggest that any form of pathway for legalization for those who are already in the United States is unacceptable."

While major, time-consuming bills are lined up ahead of immigration, he said he thought voting on an immigration bill next year was possible.

"I would anticipate that before the year is out we will have draft legislation along with sponsors in the House and the Senate who are ready to move this forward," Obama said. "and when we come back next year that we should be in position to start acting."

Many people on both sides of the issue play down the chances of passing a bill in 2010, since contentious issues often are shunted aside during an election year.