House Republican Leaders to Outline Broad Immigration Principles, Including Legalization

Unveiling it to the rank and file at a retreat today

Republican leaders in the House of Representatives plan to outline broad immigration principles, including legalization for the 11 million immigrants living here illegally, to the party's rank and file members as they look to revive long-stalled efforts to overhaul the U.S. immigration system.

The party's leadership faces strong opposition from several conservatives who fear that legislation will lead to citizenship for people who broke U.S. immigration laws, are suspicious of President Barack Obama's agenda and are reluctant to give the president a long-sought legislative victory.

Republican House Speaker John Boehner and other House Republican leaders will measure the willingness of party members to tackle immigration in a midterm election year when they unveil the principles Thursday at the party caucus' annual retreat in Maryland.