Jeb Bush sounds sympathetic note for illegal immigrants

In a sweeping speech that leaned heavily on economic policy, former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida on Friday described immigrants as the “engine of economic vitality” before calling for a more welcoming immigration policy that could put him at odds with some in the more conservative wing of his party.

“We need to find a path to legalized status for those who have come here and have languished in the shadows,” Mr. Bush said. While not specifically calling for a path to legalization for unauthorized immigrants, Mr. Bush’s statement will probably be a topic of conversation this weekend in Iowa, as many other Republicans attend the Iowa Freedom Summit hosted by Representative Steve King, who maintains a hard-line policy against illegal immigration.