“And the idea is very simple here,” he said. “We’re going to leverage cutting-edge technology to reduce the unnecessary paperwork, backlogs, and the lack of transparency that’s caused so many people so much heartache.”
   Attending that meeting were Queens representatives Anthony Weiner (D-Queens and Brooklyn), Joe Crowley (D-Queens and the Bronx), Nydia Velazquez (D-Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York). All are strong proponents of immigration reform.
   “The American people want meaningful reform and, after today’s meeting, I believe that we have a group of legislators who are ready to make that happen,” Velazquez said in a prepared statement. “Complex and sensitive issues, such as immigration, require the leadership of the president and on behalf of the [Congressional Hispanic Caucus], I want to thank him for bringing us together.”
   Immigration advocates were also pleased with the meeting. Chung-Wha Hong, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, is more optimistic that change will happen now than under the Bush administration, whose own reform initiative failed to win support.
   “We applaud President Obama for taking a long-awaited and critical step toward legislative action on immigration reform,” Hong said. “What’s different this time around is that reformers are much better organized, immigrants have more political clout, we have leaders in Congress who are determined to see reform through, and we have a president who has the moral standing and leadership ability to see immigration reform across the finish line. We now urge Congress to use this meeting as a turning point to move from a discussion phase to an action phase and finally hash out an immigration reform solution that upholds our values and works for all of us.”
   Officials with Immigration Advocacy Services, a nonprofit outreach center located in Astoria, were also pleased, especially because they had been writing members of Congress about the issue. However, they believe there is still work to be done.
   “We here personally think there is just a few small measures they can enact now,” said Debra Gilmore, the group’s director. “There is something called Registry. If you were here prior to 1972 and can prove continual presence, and never left the United States, you can get your green card. If they just push that date up to 1985, 1987, it would help a bunch of people.”
   Gilmore, whose group sees around 100 people a day, also pushed for Congress to pass the Dream Act, which would allow undocumented youth who were raised and schooled in the United States the ability to go to college or join the military. The Dream Act, of which Crowley is a lead sponsor, was introduced in March.
   Weiner, the only member of the city congressional delegation who sits on the House Immigration Subcommittee, said it’s high time to reform the law.
   “It is vital to the fabric of our nation and the strength of our economy that we address the sorry state of our immigration laws; President Obama understands this,” he said. “It won’t be easy, but if we leave the demagoguery at the door, I am convinced we can find bipartisan consensus that produces reform that strengthens our economy and demonstrates our humanity,” Weiner said in a press release.