Obama: Immigration Reform Up To Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama told members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus immigration law reform will depend on congressional, not presidential, action.

Following a meeting between Obama and caucus members, the White House said the president and senior administration officials discussed "the importance of fixing the broken immigration system so that it meets our nation's 21st century economic and security needs."

Obama told the CHC members he was disappointed that immigration reform legislation known as the DREAM Act -- passed with bipartisan support in the House during the lame-duck session last year -- failed to pass in the Senate.

CHC members asked the president to consider a number of administrative actions he could take on the matter. The White House said Obama told the members of Congress his goal is to reform immigration law "and that he cannot do this unilaterally, noting that the only way to fix what's broken about our immigration system is through legislative action in Congress."

The president did, however, agree to review the CHC members' request.