In a speech this morning to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) endorsed a pathway to citizenship for the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants.

Immigration reform will not occur until conservative Republicans, like myself, become part of the solution. I am here today to begin that conversation…Let’s start that conversation by acknowledging we aren’t going to deport the millions already here

Paul said this pathway would not come without conditions, citing that progress in securing our nation’s borders must occur before citizenship is granted.

My plan will not grant amnesty or move anyone to the front of the line,” Paul says. But what we have now is de facto amnesty.

A native Texan, Paul is no stranger to the Latino community, and the many issues that border states face today. Paul’s endorsement speech comes just one day after the Republican National Committee released its report citing a need to reach out to the Hispanic community.

With his recent win at the CPAC straw poll, many view the Kentucky Senator as potential candidate in 2016 and see this as a first step to laying groundwork for a potential bid for the White House.

Full speech here