House Republicans who want to advance what they call "comprehensive immigration reform" say they've found a workable compromise, one that allays the concerns of opponents, improves current policy and allows the party to make gains among Hispanics.
Their big idea: Illegal immigrants who meet various conditions should be allowed to work in the U.S. legally, but not to get on a fast track to citizenship.
That's the line drawn by a new statement of principles from House Republican leaders. Putting illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship, supporters say, would amount to "amnesty," while giving many of them legal status would merely acknowledge the reality that we aren't going to deport them all.