Rand Paul endorses immigration changes
WASHINGTON -- Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate popular with tea party activists, endorsed immigration changes Tuesday that would give legal status to undocumented immigrants in the United States.
"If you wish to live and work in America, then we will find a place for you," Paul said in a speech before the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Washington.
"The solution doesn't have to be amnesty or deportation," he said. "A middle ground might be called probation, where those who came illegally become legal through a probationary period."
Paul didn't specify whether he would endorse letting the 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the United States become citizens, in contrast to a bipartisan group of senators who have called for a path to citizenship.
Paul's speech suggested giving "probationary work visas to immigrants who are willing to work." In a later conference call with reporters, Paul said these work visas would not create a special pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. They would wait in the same line as people seeking U.S. citizenship from outside the country.
Paul's decision to back an immigration overhaul may help congressional advocates pressing for a broad rewrite of U.S. immigration laws. The Senate group is expecting to unveil its plan next month.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
