Pushing Obama on immigration

As President Barack Obama makes his first official trip to Mexico, activists are intensifying the campaign for comprehensive immigration reform, an issue they fear has been overshadowed by the economic slump.Tony Castro in the Daily News.

Reform leaders say they were relieved by recent reports that Obama, who will meet today with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, plans to speak publicly about the issue in May and will press lawmakers from both parties to begin discussing legislation by the fall.

"We know that good will and promises in this politically charged atmosphere are not going to be enough," said Juan Jose Gutierrez, spokesman for the Los Angeles-based Full Rights For Immigrants Coalition.