Obama Seeks Latino Stars' Help on Immigration

Boston Globe: With his immigration overhaul stalled, President Obama is enlisting an array of voices, including Latino entertainment and media stars, to help jump-start legislation and reassure crucial but restless Hispanic voters that he has not abandoned his campaign pledge to change the law. Obama's political advisers see tremendous potential in a growing Latino electorate. But Obama, who won 67 percent of the Latino vote in 2008, faces a disenchanted Latino community, angry over a rise in deportations and an impasse on revamping immigration laws and fearful of tough state immigration laws such as those in Arizona. Obama invited to the White House yesterday a dozen influential Spanish-language television anchors and radio personalities along with Latino actresses who have been active in Hispanic causes. Among the high-profile Latinos was Eddie "Piolin'' Sotelo, who in 2006 helped mobilize hundreds of thousands of protesters in Los Angeles and across the nation against enforcement-only immigration proposals. Actresses Eva Longoria and America Ferrera and television figures Don Francisco of Univision and Jose Diaz-Balart of Telemundo were also there. Obama wants to overhaul the nation's immigration system to provide a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. Chances of passage are remote on Capitol Hill with Republicans controlling the House.