U.S. President Barack Obama assured Hispanic Americans Friday that he would champion immigration reform in a second term, contrasting his vision with Republican White House contender Mitt Romney to court voters who could help sway the election on Nov. 6.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING:<br/> <br />"One of America's greatest strengths has always been our ability to attract talent and hard-working people, who believe in this country and who want to make it strong. Our current immigration system doesn't reflect those values."<br/> <br />With more than 50 million people with Latin American roots living in the U.S., they could decisively influence the result in November.<br/> <br />Obama alluded to his rival, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who spoke to the group Thursday.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING:<br/> <br />"Your speaker from yesterday has a different view. In a speech he said that when he makes a promise to you, he'll keep it. Well, he has promised to veto the DREAM Act, and we should take him at his word."<br/> <br />The DREAM Act, offering children brought to the country illegally a path to citizenship, failed to pass the U.S. Senate in December 2010 after most Republicans and some Democrats voted against it.<br/> <br />Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
