Nevada GOP endorses path to citizenship for illegal immigrants

Nevada Republican Party leaders endorsed a path to U.S. citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, GOP officials said Thursday, moving to appeal to the state's growing Hispanic population and joining a national movement toward major immigration reform.

The Nevada GOP's executive board voted Wednesday night to back immigration reform as part of the party's platform. The vote came a day after President Barack Obama visited Las Vegas to unveil his own plan that shares the U.S. citizenship goals of a bipartisan U.S. Senate package announced earlier this week.

"Republicans must become more inclusive, reflecting our desire to secure a better life for all Americans, and equally important, for our children," Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald said in a statement.

The party's executive board voted 7-1 to endorse a pathway to U.S. citizenship, backing the new set of "principles and strategy" for the party with two abstentions, GOP leaders said.

The Nevada GOP emphasized securing the border as part of any reform plan that would allow illegal immigrants to register with the government, start paying taxes and apply for U.S. citizenship if desired.

The Nevada GOP statement also said U.S. citizenship must be earned, requiring immigrants to learn English, perform military or other community services and offer proof of financial responsibility.

"The party does not support amnesty, but rather a reasonable process that any individual seeking to be an American citizen can follow," the Nevada GOP said in a statement.

GOP BOWS TO POLITICAL REALITY

The state GOP embrace of a path to citizenship comes after Obama won re-election thanks in large part to overwhelming support from Hispanic voters, including in Nevada. The president won 70 percent to 80 percent of the Nevada Hispanic vote on Nov. 6, according to exit polls by TV networks and Latino Decisions.

More than 26 percent of Nevada's population of 2.7 million people is Hispanic. Latinos made up 18 percent of the 2012 electorate, voting mostly for Democrats, according to Latino Decisions exit polls.

"The GOP has increasingly found itself in positions that do not meet the demographic realities of the state's electorate," the Nevada GOP said in its statement, acknowledging Latino growth. "These positions also conflict with our party's historic commitment to civil rights."

On Tuesday, after Obama's speech, Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval praised the president and the senators. Nevada's first Hispanic governor said he was "optimistic a fair solution can be achieved."

"Although there are many challenges ahead, the bipartisan proposal made yesterday recognizes the urgent responsibility of the federal government to secure our borders while also acknowledging the practical need to provide undocumented individuals already in our country an opportunity to earn legal status," Sandoval said.

Dan Schwartz, finance director for the state party, said it took two nights of discussion on Tuesday and Wednesday for the executive board to reach agreement on the GOP immigration principles.

"It was a battle," Schwartz said. "Certainly people on the executive committee said these people are here, they contribute to the community, so let's resolve this and move onto the bigger issues like the economy."

Diane Orrock, the national Republican committeewoman from Nevada, said she was the no vote. She said she wanted to first get approval from the GOP's larger central committee, which is set to meet in April.

Orrock said she believes the first step should be stronger border security and enforcement of the laws now on the books before carefully examining which illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay.

"We can't just deport them all, but there has to be a very careful process of looking at what the requirements are for granting citizenship," Orrock said. "There's no doubt that something has to be done. It has to be something that's meaningful, not just paying lip service to the need to secure the borders and enforce the law."

HELLER, AMODEI: SYSTEM NEEDS FIXING

On Monday, four Republican U.S. senators and four Democratic senators outlined a reform package that would provide a path to U.S. citizenship to undocumented immigrants after first securing the border. Immigrants also would have to learn English and pay taxes and penalties before applying for citizenship.

U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., said he supported "many of the principles" in the bipartisan plan. He also quickly signed onto a bill to provide more visas for highly skilled workers, which is part of the Senate package.

Over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said he opposes amnesty. But he said the immigration system is broken and so he sought a role on a House Judiciary subcommittee that will deal with legislation.

Asked Thursday about the Nevada GOP position on immigration, Amodei's office said the congressman is ready to work on the citizenship issue, but it's too soon to endorse any proposals or pathways.

"Mark sought out a seat on the House Judiciary Committee's immigration and border security subcommittee because he is eager to evaluate concrete legislative proposals to reform our immigration system," spokesman Brian Baluta said, adding the first public hearing is Tuesday.

HECK REMAINS CAUTIOUS

U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., also is taking a cautious approach. Heck has opposed the Dream Act, which would offer possible U.S. citizenship to young undocumented immigrants who attend college or join the U.S. military. He has said proposed legislation as written is too broad, allowing immigrants up to 35 years old into the program and not requiring they graduate or serve honorably in the military.

On Thursday, Heck's office said he is open to considering a path to U.S. citizenship, depending on the details.

"He remains opposed to amnesty for undocumented immigrants but looks forward to evaluating legislative proposals dealing with earned citizenship," Heck spokesman Greg Lemon said.

Immigration reform advocates were pleased by the GOP pledge to back a citizenship path.

"It's a vital component to bringing people out of the shadows and giving our state an economic boost," said Leo Murrieta, Nevada director of Mi Familia Vota, which registered 19,000 voters last year.