Boehner: We need strong border security in place before we begin legalizing immigrants

“The House is going to do its own job on developing an immigration bill,” Boehner said Monday after an event on the Capitol steps on student loans. “But it’s real clear, from everything that I’ve seen and read over the last couple of weeks, that the American people expect that we’ll have strong border security in place before we begin the process of legalizing and fixing our legal immigration system.”

Boehner has been deliberately circumspect in weighing in on the specifics of immigration reform proposals, and so his comments on the timing of legalization are significant as the House embarks on its own effort to rewrite the nation’s immigration laws.

The Speaker will lead a special meeting of the House Republican Conference on Wednesday to discuss immigration reform, and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) has said the House could vote on proposals this month before the August recess.