Boehner: Immigration reform ‘not dead’

House Speaker John A. Boehner says his party is hopeful that progress can be made on immigration reform, but believes that implementing change should be addressed “one step at a time.”

“I’m hopeful we can make progress on this very important issue,” he added, according to The Washington Post.

“The only way to make sure immigration reform works this time is to address these complicated issues one step at a time. I think doing so will give the American people confidence that we’re dealing with these issues in a thoughtful way and a deliberative way,” said Boehner.

Boehner said he was encouraged by the President, that he was open to reform changes being implemented in a gradual fashion. While he wouldn’t put a timeline on these changes, he insisted that immigration reform is still alive.

“Is immigration reform dead? Absolutely not,” he said, according to the LA Times.

The main bone of contention is the provision in the Senate-approved bill to allow illegal immigrants follow a path to U.S. citizenship, something the GOP-controlled House is against.