Obama re-affirmed his stance on “pathway to citizenship” as the best way to address the nation’s immigration woes in a speech recently in California.

"I know this is an emotional issue,” Obama told an audience March 18 in Costa Mesa. “I know it’s a controversial issue. I know that the people get real riled up politically about this."

Cecilia Muñoz, deputy assistant to the president and director of intergovernmental affairs in the White House, describes the plan as “policy reform that controls immigration and makes it an orderly system.”

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who recently condemned raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, also is touting amnesty and a path for legalization for illegal immigrants.

At a rally in San Francisco last month, Pelosi told a crowd of illegal aliens and advocates for immigration reform that federal or local law enforcement of existing immigration laws is "un-American," the Associated Press reports.

"Who in this country would not want to change a policy of kicking in doors in the middle of the night and sending a parent away from their families?” Pelosi said about ICE raids on illegal aliens. Pelosi urged Obama “to stop the misguided raids and deportations that are tearing marriages, children and families” apart.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., who is on a 17-city, cross-country tour intended to put a human face on the immigration debate, has called immigration officers "Gestapo agents," FOX News reports.

“The raids] must be stopped!” Pelosi warns. “What value system is that? I think it's un-American."

Pelosi refers to illegal aliens as "heroes" and pledges to protect their "right to work" in the U.S. She says illegals working and residing in the U.S. are “very, very patriotic" and are taking “responsibility for our country's future."

Rick Oltman of Californians for Population Stabilization tells the Associated Press he’s embarrassed by Pelosi’s pandering and her attempts to exhort illegals for taking responsibility for the future of the country.

“[She’s] insulting American citizens who consider themselves to be patriotic and obey the rule of law,” Oltman says.

"This is just another example of politicians blaming bureaucrats and police officers for things they don't like,” Mark Krikorian, executive director of Center for Immigration Studies, tells World Net Daily.

“If Pelosi wants an amnesty, she should be up front about it. Until then, police are sworn to enforce the law, and it is outrageous for her to criticize them for doing their jobs."

Meanwhile, Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to cease their workplace investigations into illegals.

The directive has had “a chilling effect on rank-and-file ICE agents, some of whom fear they will be investigated or prosecuted by the Obama Justice Department,” political strategist Mike Baker tells The Examiner.

Opponents of legalization legislation will try to mobilize public outrage against legalizing illegal workers while so many Americans are out of work. In the meantime, the administration will convene working group discussions with immigration groups and lawmakers from both parties, The Times reports.

Legislation on immigration reform is expected as early as this fall.