Rep. Gallego: People are tired of 'prolonged conversation,' want action on immigration

>> good morning.

>> you obviously have a big interest in this. do you think the white house should push for with this plan or back off and let congress take the lead?

>> i think most people don't really care where the idea comes from. i think they want action. they want something to happen. they're tired of the prolonged conversations and frankly anything that starts a spark that gets people moving in the right direction i think is a good thing.

>> you have heard republicans like marco rubio significant this plan would make the problem worse and a big issue for the gop is they don't see that it addresses border security . is something missing here?

>> i think border security , you know, i represent one of the safest cities in the country, so i think there is probably a difference of opinion on whether more border security is needed. for me personally sometimes it turns out to be economic development . along the border in places like presidio and del rio and eagle pass , small towns on the border, you are helping the local economy and buying at stores and contributing and paying taxes so it is not necessarily a bad thing, but i think that people are a little tired of tying immigration to border security in many places.

>> so let me just ask you more specifically because the republican criticism is the president hasn't done enough. the white house suggestion is that they in fact have done more for border security than has been done before and we know about the numbers of deportations. has the white house done enough?

>> i think the white house has done quite a bit and frankly in today's political environment the truth is you always have to find something to complain about, something to throw rocks at, and border security just happens to be it for the time being or the conversation about the white house 's essentially a statement of principles , so i think in the current environment something is going to get done. you can tell by all the activity. you can tell by the fact that tempers are high right now and all of that bodes well for the final passage of the immigration bill this session of congress.

>> tempers, tension, clearly high and it is not always just about the specifics of the plan. let me play for you a clip of what senator mccain had to say on "meet the press."

>> we're working together, republicans and democrats. by the way, he's had no communications with republicans on the issue unlike the previous four presidents i have dealt with.

>> he is not happy about barack obama . he says he is not reached out to republicans, and what role do you think the president can and could most effectively play in all of this?

>> i think right now he is playing it well. i think --

>> it does seem like they're saying he needs to stay out and let congress do its work and on the other side they're complaining he is not reaching out.

>> that's the whole thing in politics today. it is lose-lose. as i indicated earlier you have to find something to throw rocks at and complain about. the truth is i think he is praying it well. he is keeping some distance, and at the same time he stirs the pot when he thinks it knees to be stirred and certainly there is a real legitimate need to do immigration reform and i think he is aware of that. i think he wants to see something passed and he will do what it takes to push congress along to finally get there.

>> understanding you're new to this process as a freshman congressman, give me your --

>> 40 days of seniority, i think.

>> give me your gut, though. what are the chances something big gets done this session of congress?

>> i think immigration reform is done this session of congress. i think from the perspective of both parties, it is time. it has been about for a long time and i think the republicans saw what happened with the latino electorate last time in and places like texas that's a really significant thing and i think there is a real desire on the part of both parties to get something done and get something done fairly rapidly.

>> congresswoman, come back when you have 60 or 70 days under your belt.