House GOP on immigration: Get right with law

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republican leaders' standards for any immigration overhaul call for providing a chance for citizenship to children brought to the country illegally.

The principles also say the country's national and economic security depends on requiring people who are living and working here illegally to come forward and get right with the law.

It rules out a special path to citizenship. Instead, it says immigrants living here illegally could remain and live legally if they pass background checks, pay fines and back taxes, learn to speak English and understand U.S. civics, and can support themselves without access to welfare.

House Speaker John Boehner (BAY'-nur) and other GOP leaders were circulating the principles to the rank-and-file at their annual retreat in Maryland.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the principles Thursday.