Immigration reform is one of the top issues for President Barack Obama. Wednesday morning the president said comprehensive immigration reform must include border security, KJZZ’s Al Macias reports.

AL MACIAS: One of the first questions at Wednesday’s news conference dealt with immigration. The president said he believes the continuing increase in the number of Latino voters has forced Republican leaders to reassess their position on the issue.

BARACK OBAMA: This has not historically been a partisan issue. We’ve had President Bush and John McCain and others who have supported comprehensive immigration reform in the past, so we need to seize the moment. My expectation is that we get a bill introduced and we begin the process in Congress very soon after my inauguration.

MACIAS: Daniel Rodriguez is a young Latino who has led the fight in Arizona for immigration reform. He agrees with the president that the pressure is on Republicans.

DANIEL RODRIGUEZ: I think the tables are somewhat turned, and I really believe that it’s going to be the Republicans that see that their future, and the future of their party and this big tent they want to create really depends on them being able to reach out to Latinos.

MACIAS: The president said reform should deal with border security, penalties for employers who purposely hire undocumented workers and a pathway to legal status. He said that young people who were brought into the country illegally by their parents should have an opportunity to apply for citizenship.