Gibbs says passage of immigration reform hinges on GOP

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that the Senate could pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation if Republicans would cooperate. 

Gibbs made his comments after President Barack Obama delivered a speech on the need for immigration reform in Washington, D.C., earlier in the day. Gibbs responded to a question about the timeline for a bill to be considered. 

"I think where there is a will, there is a way," he said at his daily press briefing. "If there is a will among Democrats and Republicans, specifically Republicans, then there is a way."

The White House has sent signals this week that it wants Congress to act on immigration reform, holding meetings with grassroots groups and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. But it has so far declined to set a deadline.

Immigration reform has become a hot-button issue ever since Arizona passed its controversial law in April requiring law enforcement to check the identification of people they suspect are in the country illegally, as long as they are stopped for another reason. 

Obama has repeatedly called the law "misguided," saying it could lead to racial discrimination. The administration is even weighing a lawsuit against the state. 

But Republicans have accused Democrats of grandstanding on the issue of immigration in an election year. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) dropped out of climate change negotiations in April after Democratic leaders tried to rush the legislation to the floor. 

Democrats need 60 votes to break a potential Republican filibuster of the legislation, but with 59 senators, Democrats lack a GOP partner to do so. 

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) called the president's speech "very political" on Fox News. 

"What they're not seeing is adequate commitment to it. And when the president seems to suggest it can't be done and that the rules can't be enforced, it confirms to the American people that this is not something they're totally committed to," he said. "Remember too on this legislation, Republicans don't control the presidency or the Congress."

GOP lawmakers have said that the southern border must be secured before they take up immigration reform legislation that contains a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. 

"[House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi and [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid can bring immigration legislation up any time they want, they have a huge majority," Kyl said. "But the reason they don't is because they too know that the American people at least want us to try to secure the border first."

Obama's campaign opponent, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), co-sponsored comprehensive immigration legislation with the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) in 2006. 

"The president can make progress on this issue, but it will take more than a speech," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement. "If he would take amnesty off the table and make a real commitment to border and interior security, he will find strong bipartisan support."