Rand Paul tries to pull GOP toward immigration reform

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who rose to power with support from the tea party movement, is urging conservatives to support efforts in Congress toward an immigration overhaul that would provide illegal immigrants a pathway to legality.

In a speech to the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, Paul outlined his own plan, which would allow illegal immigrants already in the country an opportunity to remain here legally once defined border security goals are met. Once they secure work visas, according to Paul's plan, they will be able to apply for legal residency, which would give them the option to seek citizenship, but only after a period of several years.

In his remarks, Paul urged Republicans to take leadership on the issue or risk losing future elections.

"Republicans need to become parents of a new future with Latino voters or we will need to resign ourselves to permanent minority status," Paul said.

He added, "In order to bring conservatives to this cause however, those who work for reform must understand that a real solution must ensure that our borders are secure. It must modernize our immigration controls and databases. It must allow for as much legal immigration as our workforce requires. And it must treat those who are already here with understanding and compassion?without also unduly rewarding them for coming illegally."

Paul did not specifically embrace a pathway to citizenship for the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants in the speech. Instead, he said these immigrants should be granted a "probation" status where they are allowed to apply for work visas. No work visas would be granted until Congress approved a report from an inspector general certifying that the border is "secure." (Paul did not specify what measures Congress would use to decide whether the border is secure or not, but in an op-ed last month, he said more drones, satellite monitoring, fencing and deportations would be necessary.)

In February, Paul said he supported giving temporary visas while immigrants wait for permanent legal status, commonly referred to as a green card. (Green cards lead to citizenship in five years.) That plan is similar to what is being proposed by the Senate's gang of eight, and is in line with President Obama's reform plan.

But Paul's announcement puts him in step with a growing list of Republicans to who are working with Democrats on bipartisan immigration reform.

A bipartisan group of eight senators working on the immigration issue are on track to unveil a comprehensive bill later this spring, with plans for a vote before Congress' August recess. In January, the group released an outline of its legislative goals, which include offering illegal immigrants a clear, but slow, pathway to legality, and eventually, citizenship if they choose. If passed, the new system would not trigger until certain goals are met on border security.

Unlike the bipartisan blueprint released in January, however, Paul would not mandate that business owners?in Paul's words?to "become policeman" by expanding working verification systems requirements.

Paul said he is working on finding a "middle ground" between two extremes on the issue that can pass both chambers of Congress.

"The solution doesn't have to be amnesty or deportation-a middle ground might be called probation where those who came illegally become legal through a probationary period," he said. "My plan will not grant amnesty or move anyone to the front of the line."

In the 2012 presidential election, when Hispanic voters supported President Barack Obama's re-election efforts by more than 70 percent, a number Republicans lawmakers have cited as a reason to support an overhaul. On Monday, the Republican National Committee released a detailed audit of the its campaign efforts that recommended pursuing an immigration bill.

Paul's declaration of support will likely prove to be a helpful voice for supporters of an immigration overhaul who are trying to sway conservatives who for many years have resisted movement on the issue. Paul, who says he is "seriously" considering a run for president in 2016, is both closely aligned with the tea party and libertarian factions of the Republican Party, could help provide cover for other conservative lawmakers to voice their support.

Elizabeth Goodwin contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/rand-paul-urges-conservatives-support-immigration-reform-153022424--election.html

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