WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Rand Paul said Tuesday that illegal immigrants should be allowed to become U.S. taxpayers and ultimately get a shot at citizenship, a significant step for the Tea Party favorite amid growing Republican acceptance of the idea.
“Let’s start that conversation by acknowledging we aren’t going to deport” the millions already here, the potential 2016 presidential candidate told the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Prudence, compassion and thrift all point us toward the same goal: bringing these workers out of the shadows and into becoming and being taxpaying members of society.”
It was the latest sign that the Republican Party is moving to broaden its appeal to politically influential Latinos and other ethnic minorities after significant election losses last fall. Paul spoke a day after a Republican National Committee report called on the GOP to support comprehensive reform, though without specifying whether it should include a pathway to citizenship, which is decried by some conservatives as amnesty.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of senators is nearing agreement on sweeping legislation to overhaul the nation’s immigration policy, an effort that could get a boost from Paul’s stance.
The Kentucky Republican said for him to support such an approach, a stronger border must come first, and Congress must agree that border security has improved. The path to citizenship he envisions would come with other conditions, too, that would make it long and difficult for illegal immigrants to travel.
Read More at OfficialWire . By Erica Werner.
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We are full up, we don't need anymore immigration. We are running out of food and natural resources. If we have to have immigration for some reason let some educated Irish in, they tried to get citizenship a few years back and had to go to Canada instead, with the rich Hong kongese which should have been let into the USA also.
NOT UNTIL you get rid of EVERY illegal already here and STOP all funding for them!!!!
I'm with you Vince return them all back across the border.
I always thought that Paul would be my man,after hearing him catering to illegals he can go to hell How can jhe justify giving in state ttition toillegal beaners and charge real Americans the full price to go to school.Now the liberal wants to cut out big fines for companies that hire illegals.to think I thought this man was the one.I can't wait to get one of those donation emails.i wouldn't give him the sweat off my balls.
I like Rand, but I am disappointed with him right now, this is a real let down. These politicians should not allow 12 million or whatever the real number is, it could be as much as 20 million illegals that are already here.
To allow for these illegals to stay here, means that they will take away what few jobs we have and many of these illegals will become a burden on the tax payer's back. NOT Right!!! when so many Americans are struggling to find work. None of these politicians get it.
well he was my favorite until he wanted the illegal immigrant invaders to remain here the damn criminals.