Under a plan recently proposed by a bipartisan group of senators, millions of undocumented immigrants would get provisional status to work and live in the United States.
The proposed plan would provide a pathway to citizenship for about 11 million undocumented immigrants, while heightening border security and cracking down on hiring undocumented workers.
The possible immigration bill reflects a new willingness by congressional Republicans to compromise with Democrats on issues following their party’s defeat in the Nov. 2012 election.
Compromise between the two parties is rare but essential in taking a step forward on this issue.  
President Barack Obama was heavily supported by Latino voters in this past election, taking about 70 percent of the vote.
Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) only got about 30 percent of the Latino vote.
This percentage was lower than the amount of Latino votes George W. Bush got in his reelection in 2004.    
Sen. John McCain of Arizona was one Republican to back this bill, followed by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
“The Republican Party is losing support of our Hispanic citizens,” said McCain, according to an article from CNN.
 “This is a preeminent issue with those citizens.”
However, several severely conservative congressional leaders voiced their opposition to this plan saying that it would provide amnesty to millions who broke the law to enter the country illegally, as well as encourage more illegal immigration.
In addition, they claim that it would cost thousands of American jobs and cause taxpayers millions of dollars.
Agreeing on this matter might not boost the number of Republican support among Latinos, but is more a method of damage control.
The Republicans’ chance to boost their share of Latino votes will be in the upcoming senate and congressional elections in 2014.
The Latino population is one of the fastest growing populations in the country.
It is expected to be about one-fourth of the United States population by 2050.
Given that Latinos tend to overwhelmingly vote for Democratic candidates in elections, the Republican Party must find a way to gain support among the Latino population if they hope to win the presidency again.