The White House says President Barack Obama will deliver a speech on immigration when he visits Texas next Tuesday.
The speech in El Paso will be the latest in a string of events the White House has devoted to immigration policy despite an unfavorable climate on Capitol Hill for passing the kind of comprehensive legislation Obama favors.
The president wants to see a path to legalization for the millions of illegal immigrants in this country, something opposed by Republicans who control the House.
Hispanic lawmakers are pressing Obama to take executive action to stop or slow some deportations, particularly of students, which he's so far refused to do. But with the 2012 election approaching, Obama is highlighting his focus on immigration, a key issue for Hispanic voters.
After El Paso, the president will travel to Austin to take part in a Democratic fundraising event before heading back to the White House.
NBC DFW has received word from the camp of Gov. Rick Perry that the governor is trying to schedule a meeting with the president during his visit to Austin later in the day. Perry has been a harsh critic of the Obama administration lately due to Texas not being declared a major disaster area after wildfires burned 2.2 million acres.
