Paul Ryan Understands Need for Immigration Reform

Rep. Paul Ryan gets it. We hope enough of his fellow Republicans in the House do, too — and vote to approve comprehensive immigration reform.

With 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, the nation needs an immigration system that works. A proposal by the so-called bipartisan Gang of Eight — introduced in mid-April and discussed on the Hill Monday — goes a long way toward achieving that reform.

Ryan recently touted that package of immigration reforms in eight town hall meetings over four days in his district, as the Journal Sentinel's Craig Gilbert reported this past weekend.

"I'm helping bring Republicans and Democrats together in the House to come up with the right bill," Ryan told a crowd.

Ryan has jumped into the fight on this one with both feet, adjusting earlier views he had to match the realism that's reflected in the Gang of Eight's proposal. Maybe that's a result of the lessons he's learned from the loss of the Republican ticket he was on in November. The loss has been attributed at least in part to the failure of Republicans to attract many minority voters, especially Hispanic voters. For many Hispanics, immigration remains a central issue.

Ryan's leadership on the issue, especially if a bill does pass, could bode well for his future leadership in the party.

As we noted in an editorial last month, the bill is promising.

It beefs up border security and expands a program for all employers to electronically verify the immigration status of potential employees. It also would introduce a new system of temporary visas for low-skill workers and expanded visas for highly skilled workers.

But the controversy at its heart is a 13-year-long pathway to citizenship for the 11 million who entered this country illegally. Many Republicans still balk at that prospect, calling it amnesty.

It isn't. Here's how Ryan described it at one listening session, according to Gilbert: "They go to the back of the line. They acknowledge that they broke the law. They pay the fine. They learn English." He also said it was a "non-amnesty way ... of getting people out of the shadows."

And getting people out of the shadows where too many reside now is essential. Sending them back is not realistic. Making them an open contributing part of the communities where they live matters.

The bill is not ideal; we'd argue for a shorter timeline and perhaps less of a fine. But this proposal offers a solid starting point for reform. Ryan understands that. We hope that the rest of Congress does, too.

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