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Sen.-elect Flake: Achieve Act GOP’s ‘point of departure’ for immigration talks
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11/30/12 12:08 PM ET
The recently introduced conservative alternative on immigration reform gives Republicans a starting point for negotiations with Democrats, according to Sen.-elect Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).
Flake, speaking in an interview with PBS Newshour, was referring to the Achieve Act, which was introduced on Tuesday by two top Republicans.
"That gives us a point of departure, where to start from, and there will be reaction to that as we go into the New Year," Flake said Thursday. "And we can either introduce that same thing or something like it."
President Obama has vowed to make immigration reform a top priority of his second term in office. Earlier this year, Obama issued a directive meant to protect immigrants living in the country illegally from being deported, provided they meet certain criteria and came to the United States as children. Flake said that directive was only a temporary fix, a sentiment shared by other Republicans.
"What we have right now with President Obama's action is a temporary measure. We need something permanent," Flake continued. "And this has always been an issue that we have needed to deal with in a humane, rational way. And if this bill represents the place to start, that's great."
Both Republicans and Democrats have suggested strong interest in passing comprehensive immigration reform. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), one of the most vocal proponents of passing immigration reform, recently said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a rising star in the GOP who is often mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2016, will be key to a bipartisan agreement on immigration.
"He'll play a critical role — a necessary, critical role," Guitierrez said of Rubio.
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