White House press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday that the administration was encouraged by the immigration proposals outlined over the weekend by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), saying the freshman senator’s proposals “bode well” for striking a deal on reform.
In a weekend interview with the Wall Street Journal, Rubio called for a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who are already in the United States. Under the plan, immigrants would likely be assessed a fine and back taxes, undergo a background check and work through a lengthy probationary period.
That’s a break from some Republicans, who have suggested that a pathway to citizenship would be tantamount to amnesty for illegal immigrants. But it’s also a far more conservative plan than the one advocated by the White House. Nevertheless, the administration saw reason for optimism as they gear up for a second-term push on immigration reform.