Theme and message

The main theme of the speech “Address to the Nation on Immigration” by Barack Obama is immigration to the US and the immigration system. The speaker’s message is that the US needs a reform of the immigration system and that immigrants have and still can contribute to the development of the US.

Immigration

Immigration is a highly debated theme nowadays with some states/societies viewing it as a threat and others as an advantage. In the speech, Barack Obama shows through the example of the US both sides of immigration but focuses on its advantages.

On the one hand, some of the immigrants are indeed criminals, terrorists or simply free riders, making an illegal living in a different country. On the other hand, some of the immigrants, even undocumented, genuinely want to be part of that country, share its values and ideals. The speaker focu...