Rick Weiland on Immigration

Border security and a path to citizenship at the same time

Rounds says border security has to come first, to be completed before a path to citizenship for immigrants here illegally can begin, with plenty of preconditions and limitations, requiring "10 to 15 years to apply for citizenship. This is not amnesty."

Weiland, on the other hand, said there's no reason why border security & a path to citizenship can't proceed at the same time. He endorsed the Senate immigration bill, which Rounds opposes for being insufficiently tough on border security. But that border security shouldn't stop movement on letting illegal immigrants move toward citizenship, Weiland said. Supporters of Sen. John Thune's amendment (including Rounds) would require border security to come first; opponents say border security will be used to block the path to citizenship perpetually.