Jeb Bush immigration flip could upend amnesty debate

A new book by Jeb Bush in which the former Florida governor argues that millions of immigrants now in the United States illegally should never be eligible for American citizenship is likely to have a huge effect on the debate over immigration reform inside the Republican party.

Bush, who would be a leading contender for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination if he chooses to run, is generally regarded within the GOP as a liberalizing voice on the issue of immigration. A longtime supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, Bush has in the past supported a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants currently in the country illegally.