One day after Rand Paul’s embrace of immigration reform with citizenship, and two weeks after Jeb Bush’s, it’s become clear that creating a pathway to citizenship is the mainstream position in the immigration debate. If there’s something that should be learned from Bush and Paul’s big news stories on immigration, it’s that citizenship is clearly the middle ground position in the immigration reform debate. It’s what Americans want, what Democrats promised, and what Republicans need—and there’s no need to even talk about anything less.
Washington Post: Sen. Rand Paul: Illegal immigrants should be allowed to obtain legal status
By Rosalind Helderman
Talking Points Memo: Rand Paul Backs Path To Citizenship (Just Don’t Call It That)
By Benjy Sarlin
Huffington Post: Rand Paul: Don’t Call My Plan ‘Pathway To Citizenship’
By Elise Foley
ABC/Univision: What Does ‘Pathway to Citizenship’ Mean in Immigration Reform?
By Ted Hesson
Washington Post: Rand Paul backs new path to legalization for illegal immigrants
By Rosalind Helderman and Aaron Blake
Bloomberg: Paul Looks to Broaden Appeal by Backing Immigration Shift
By Heidi Przybyla and John McCormick
NBC News: From ‘amnesty!’ to assimilation: Two Pauls’ immigration stances
By Carrie Dann
CNN: Rubio praises Paul on immigration
By Ashley Killough
The Hill: Emerging immigration deal receives House leaders’ bipartisan backing
By Russell Berman and Mike Lillis
Reuters: Boehner hails emerging bipartisan House immigration plan
By Thomas Ferraro
Chicago Tribune: Gutierrez hopes for immigration action after Easter recess
By Katherine Skiba
Washington Post: Gutierrez praises Republicans on immigration reform
By Rachel Weiner
ABC/Univision: Luis Gutiérrez: GOP and Dems Agree on Path to Citizenship
By Jordan Fabian, Serena Marshall and Jim Avila
US News and World Report: On Immigration Reform, Paul Ryan’s Role Growing
By Lauren Fox
The Hill: Van Hollen: Boehner will be ‘pressured’ to allow immigration vote
By Meghashyam Mali
The Hill: Hoyer: House group ‘very close’ to deal including path to citizenship
By Mike Lillis
The Hill: Senate’s Gang of 8: We’ll have bill in April
By Alexander Bolton
Roll Call: GOP Senators Hint That Immigration Debate Should Take Years
By Humberto Sanchez
Talking Points Memo: GOP Senators: Slow Down Debate On Immigration Reform
By Igor Bobic
New York Times (Editorial): For the G.O.P., It’s Not Just the Message
Washington Post (Wonkblog): Five reasons why immigration reform is moving forward
By Suzy Khimm
Washington Post (Opinion): Standing with Rand, nervously
By Dana Milbank
Washington Post (The Fix): Rand Paul and why the ‘pathway to citizenship’ question is so delicate for the GOP
By Sean Sullivan
Washington Post (Blog): Rand Paul on immigration reform
By Jennifer Rubin
Fox News Latino (Opinion): Securing Borders Before Immigration Reform is Backward Thinking
By Sylvia Longmire
The Hill (Blog): Lawmakers must reevaluate immigration detention system
By Antonio Ginatta
The Hill (Blog): Immigration reform should fix harsh, inflexible court system
By JC Slayer