Immigration Reform 2014: House Republicans to Introduce Immigration Principles Today

House Republican leaders will outline principles for immigration reform, which includes legalization for 11 million undocumented immigrants, to their GOP colleagues Thursday. 

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other House Republican leaders will measure the willingness of the GOP to take on the immigration issue when they unveil the principles at the GOP caucus' annual retreat in Cambridge, Md., the Associated Press reports. 

"We're going to outline our standards, principles of immigration reform and have a conversation with our members, and once that conversation's over we'll have a better feel for what members have in mind," Boehner said this week. 

Boehner faces staunch opposition from many GOP members who are worried that comprehensive reform will lead to citizenship for people who broke U.S. immigration laws. Many are also not confident that President Barack Obama will enforce the laws, and generally do not want to give the president a legislative win. 

Jeff Sessions, an Alabama senator and top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, delivered a 30-page package to the 232 House Republicans on Wednesday that offered a rebuttal to the anticipated principles. 

Sessions outlined reasons why immigration reform should not be passed. He mentioned the negative impact the changes could have on U.S. workers, taxpayers and the rule of law if they eventually legalize 11 million undocumented immigrants. Sessions and other conservative House Republicans believe that legal status and work authorization is tantamount to amnesty. 

Sessions said that Republicans "must end the lawlessness - not surrender to it - and they must defend the legitimate interests of millions of struggling American workers."

He believes that increasing the number of immigrants will hurt the economy, lower wages and increase unemployment. He also said that the surge in the unskilled workers would give immigrants a chance to apply for citizenship through green cards. 

However, many Republicans believe that the party must pass immigration reforms to be competitive in the upcoming presidential election in 2016. In 2012, Republicans presidential nominee Mitt Romney suggested that immigrants "self-deport," and won only 27 percent of the sizable Hispanic vote. 

Several lawmakers are also working on measures to address the children of parents who are in the U.S. illegally, as well as the issue of visas for guest workers. 

"It's no secret we have millions of people who are here, who are unlawful and we can't deny that, and I think that's something that has to be dealt with," said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., who has been working on reform legislation. "But a lot of components have to be dealt with."

Last June, the Senate passed a comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform bill that addressed border security and enforcement measures while also offering a path of citizenship who reside in the county illegally. The measure did not reach the House floor, as the Republicans want to take a piecemeal approach to passing immigration legislation. 

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters Wednesday that she spoke with Speaker Boehner about the principles, but not about specific legislation. 

"I believe it is a good-faith effort to find common ground, and we look forward to seeing what they are," Pelosi said.