DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says that immigrants living in the country illegally must have an opportunity to legalize their status, a position at odds with his potential Republican presidential rivals.
At an agricultural policy forum in Des Moines on Saturday, the likely GOP presidential contender says: “This is the only serious, thoughtful way to deal with this. No one I know has a plan to round up illegal immigrants and send them back.”
Bush has said a larger workforce based on legal immigrant labor is key to his goal of achieving 4 percent economic growth. He also proposes restricting family-based immigration to accommodate more workers. Speaking at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee are calling for enforcement of existing law.