Speaker of the House John Boehner, right, speaks during the House Republican Leadership press conference at the House Republican Issues Conference in Cambridge, Md., on Jan. 30. With him, are Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and conference chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.(Photo: Jim Watson, AFP/Getty Images)
Story Highlights
- House Republicans are huddled in maryland for their three-day annual retreat
- The most contentious issue is how to address the status of undocumented immigrants
- Republicans continue to favor a step-by-step approach versus one comprehensive piece of legislation
CAMBRIDGE, Md. — House Republican leaders on Thursday will unveil guiding principles for possible legislation to overhaul the nation's immigration laws on such things as securing the border and whether to legalize up to 12 million people living in the U.S. illegally.
"This problem's been around for at least the last 15 years. It's been turned into a political football, I think it's unfair. So I think it's time to deal with it," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday. "But how we deal with it is critically important."
House Republicans are huddled here for their three-day annual retreat. House GOP leaders have been working on general principles, not legislation, that they are scheduled to discuss with the rank-and-file Thursday afternoon at a session.
Boehner has been upfront that Republicans continue to favor a step-by-step approach versus one comprehensive piece of legislation akin to what the Democratic-controlled Senate approved last year. The Senate bill includes a pathway to citizenship for the 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.
He also said House Republicans maintain that securing the U.S. border is a top priority.
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Boehner said Republicans will take a "common sense, step-by-step manner that helps our members understand the bite-sized pieces and helps our constituents build more confidence that what we are doing make sense."
The most contentious issue among Republicans is how to address the status of undocumented immigrants. Boehner did not offer specifics on how leaders are seeking to move forward, noting that they need to hear from their members first before making a final decision.
However, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who has been working to move immigration legislation forward, told CBS this week that Republicans could consider providing legal status.
"There's a way of doing that, not talking about citizenship," Ryan said, adding that an individual could achieve a "probationary status" if they meet certain conditions, such as paying back taxes.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters that Boehner has informed her of their intent to put out some guiding principles. Pelosi said she was cautiously optimistic the two parties could reach consensus.
"We'll see what it is, but I believe it is a good faith effort to find common ground. And we look forward to seeing what they are," Pelosi said. However, she noted that any bill that does not ultimately include a path to citizenship is unlikely to garner much support from Democrats. "But we need to have that path. There cannot be a contrary"
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