It is not everyday that an op-ed against giving citizenship to illegal immigrants appears in the Wall Street Journal, whose editorial page favors comprehensive immigration reform. But the Journal published a strong dissent, titled “It’s the House Bill or Nothing on Immigration,” by the up-and-coming Republican congressman Tom Cotton of Arkansas.

The Iraq and Afghanistan veteran also gave a presentation to the House Republican Conference, and has reportedly been working behind the scenes to educate his conservative colleagues on the issue for some time.