Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas) told constituents at a town hall meeting on Tuesday evening that he is "not sure" that an effective immigration overhaul can be accomplished in one piece of legislation, likening comprehensive reform to "building a sandwich."
According to The Bryan-College Station Eagle, Flores said that while he is optimistic a bipartisan solution to fixing the nation's broken immigration system is achievable, he favors tackling the issue in a piecemeal approach.
"I'm not sure you can do it all as one solution," Flores said. "That's like building a sandwich, and every time you build a sandwich, you're going to find people who don't like the bread or pickles or whatever."
Flores' office did not return a request for comment. But his remarks suggest that increased border security would be the meat of immigration reform: Flores said Tuesday that strengthening the borders "will be [a] key part of any immigration solution."
The Texas Republican also told constituents that he opposes granting amnesty to immigrants living in the country illegally but called for a path to legal status.
In his 2012 campaign website, Flores advocated an "enforcement first" approach to immigration reform. "I fully recognize we need to improve the path to citizenship, just as we need to value the hard work of folks who become American citizens legally," Flores stated. "Right now, however, it is important we focus on securing our borders, enforcing our laws, and targeting criminal illegal aliens who threaten our neighborhoods and safety."
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