Aspen Ideas: Obama adviser explains plan for immigration reform

This hour of Midday we head to the Aspen Ideas Festival, held each year in Aspen Colorado. Each year, the Aspen Institute brings together some of the brightest thinkers and policy makers from around the country to discuss key issues of the day. Last week, festival goers had the chance to discuss one of the most polarizing issues facing the nation: immigration reform.

President Barack Obama has vowed more than once to push for what's called "comprehensive" immigration reform, but no significant legislation on immigration has actually passed for many years. And meanwhile, the debate goes on.

The President's top domestic policy adviser Melody Barnes was at Aspen last week to discuss immigration. She says with millions of illegal immigrants already living in the country, a comprehensive approach to the problem is the only realistic approach.

Before joining the White House, Melody Barnes was a fellow at the Center for American Progress, a Washington think tank. She was also chief counsel to Senator Edward Kennedy and worked at the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

She was interviewed at Aspen by the Atlantic magazine's Ron Brownstein.

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