As published on the Huffington Post:
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) hinted at the principles the GOP will release on immigration reform in a new interview with Telemundo, giving a small glimmer of hope to advocates by saying they could include a plan for legal status for undocumented immigrants.
“If we can have a way to get [immigration enforcement] up and operating, I see no reason why we can’t also have an agreement that shows how people who are not lawfully here can be able to be lawfully here,” he told Noticias Telemundo’s José Díaz-Balart on “Enfoque,” according to a transcript. The interview will air Sunday and was first reported by Politico.
Goodlatte added that undocumented immigrants could be allowed under such a system “to live here, work here, travel to and from their home country,” as well as own a business and pay taxes.
The plan would almost certainly be less inclusive than what Democrats and immigration reform advocates are calling for: a system for undocumented immigrants to become legal residents and eventual citizens. Many will say it’s not enough. But given the current state of immigration reform, providing reprieve from deportation and the chance to remain in the U.S. is considered better than nothing.
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