This is exactly what we wanted to hear on weekend talk shows: Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is finally “hopeful” about an immigration deal after a series of unpromising reconsiderations.

Rubio assumed the focal position of comprehensive immigration reform in January, following the conception of the bipartisan group of U.S. senators, nicknamed the “Gang of Eight.” Fellow legislators and media alike have perceived the Florida senator as being the “make or break” of the legislation, given his seamless party-line track record and the nature of his cultural background.

In a Sunday interview with Bob Schieffer, host of CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” Rubio seemed optimistic about the bill, claiming that it answers all questions that people have raised and that there has been a great deal of time spent on it. This is promising, especially considering that just last week there was speculation that he was close to abandoning the measure altogether.

Rubio seemed confident that their current outline will modernize the country’s immigration system, enhance the toughest enforcement measures in the history of the United States and ultimately deal with the 11 million immigrants present within our borders today through a “path to citizenship” opportunity.

Many Republicans have questioned the plan’s principle of “amnesty,” which is an incredibly unpopular term in many House Republican congressional districts and the reason for Rubio’s continuously hesitant support. Rubio argued the existing law of green card acquisition for undocumented immigrants is even more lenient than what the “Gang of Eight” is proposing.

Currently, undocumented immigrants are required to return to their country of birth for 10 years before applying for a green card — a “de facto amnesty” system, according to Rubio. In the proposed plan, the system would require a rigorous background check, followed by a permit process that would allow each illegal immigrant to stay in the U.S., work, travel and pay taxes. Securing the border, universal e-verification and a universal reentry tracking system would all have to be implemented or the green card process would be null, even if 10 years had already elapsed.

It’s quite the process; but in my mind, it’s a fair and compassionate compromise, considering the current situation. Like Rubio said, making their lives miserable so they leave on their own is unwarranted and defective, but ignoring the problem would be just as inappropriate. That’s why undocumented immigrants will no longer be able to qualify for federal benefits, including Obamacare, until a “green card” is acquired after 10 years. This effort will make illegal immigration less appealing, hopefully prompting more legal citizenship routes.
Overall, comprehensive immigration reform, or CIR, is certainly a chance for the Republican Party to appear more moderate in the runup to the 2016 presidential race, but it won’t bring the party more Latino votes. Democrats have already established that relationship, and it will take quite a transformation of the party’s agenda to enable that transition.

Rubio, on the other hand, benefits greatly. Not only will he receive accolades for being bipartisan as a Tea Party member, but he’s also reversing hardline opponents of comprehensive immigration reform with his support of the measure — something many didn’t believe was possible.

In my opinion, Rubio’s ability to stick with CIR isn’t a testament to his ability to compromise Instead, it reveals and confirms his true intentions for 2016. He’s sacrificing his own ideals in order to personally benefit from this, and that’s why he’s been positioning himself as the “make-or-break” vote from the beginning.

With Rubio’s support, fellow Republicans can get behind him without jeopardizing their image. Although that doesn’t make the bill as credible as it should be, the point is that CIR will most likely pass, hopefully providing mutual benefit for all of our country’s citizens.

Logan Nee is a third-year economics and political science student.