White House invites Hollywood stars to immigration meeting

President Obama will meet with Eva Longoria and other “influential Hispanics” Thursday to discuss immigration reform.

The White House said Obama would meet with “influential Hispanics from across the country to discuss the importance of fixing the broken immigration system.” It said the discussion would focus on fostering “a constructive national conversation on this important issue as we work to build a bipartisan consensus in Congress.”

Besides Longoria, the star of “Desperate Housewives,” others invited to the gathering include actresses Rosario Dawson and America Ferrera, Univision hosts Don Francisco and Maria Elena Salinas and Telemundo anchors Vanessa Hauc and Jose Diaz-Balart.

Los Angeles-based Spanish-language radio host Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo will also be attending. Sotelo, who had a contentious interview with Obama last year, is staunchly in favor of immigration reform. 

Obama senior advisers Valerie Jarrett and David Plouffe will also attend the meeting along with Melody Barnes, assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council; and Cecilia Munoz, deputy assistant to the president and director of intergovernmental affairs.

The president is looking to revive immigration reform as a salient political issue as he launches his bid for reelection, despite the fact Congress is unlikely to pass a plan before the 2012 contest. 

The White House has faced pressure from Hispanic lawmakers and pro-immigration reform groups who have expressed doubt about Obama’s commitment to passing a reform bill.

Obama held a meeting last week with a group of well known public officials, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), the Rev. Al Sharpton and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), where he urged them to pressure lawmakers in Washington to develop and pass a plan.