Congressman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) today met with President Obama and other Members of Congress at the White House to discuss the need to comprehensively reform America’s immigration policies.

“This was a bi-partisan group of Members of Congress from a wide range of backgrounds and districts,” said Putnam. “As different as our experiences and constituencies are, we are united by a common interest in solving the problem of illegal immigration, securing our borders, and making the necessary reforms to the legal process of immigration so that our nation can continue to draw those people to this country who have the skills and other qualities we need to help make this a better nation.”

Putnam stressed the preliminary nature of the discussions, but stressed that one option is off the table:

“Immigration is a complex issue, so there are any number of reforms possible, but granting amnesty to people who are here illegally must not be one of them.”

Since 2001, Putnam has represented Florida’s 12th Congressional District, which includes most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties.