Large financial penalties and worker visas could work ... and then immediate aggressive crackdown/jailtime for employers that hire illegals immigrants ( anyone without proper documentation to work legally ).

Globe never uses the word "Illegal" in a headline about immigration. Must be a mistake.

Gee, Senator Paul, if only there was some way for the US to constantly observe our own borders, maybe from directly above, day-in, day-out, with sophisticated cameras and sensors, in a cost effective manner. 

Another turncoat pandering to illegals. 

Yeah, look at that Rand Paul selling out to get Latino votes.  What a politician.  That's all these Republicans do is pander to special interest groups in order to get their vote.  Or perhaps Mr. Paul whom I dislike intently is simply facing the reality that most pols have to face.  Oh gee wiz, I have to govern.  I have to solve problems.  I can't just stand in the back of the room until my face turns blue saying.  No, no, no.

A sad day for zealtos every day when the pol who opposes government has to act like a grown up and try to govern.  It just brings tears to my eyes to see the zealots disappointment.  The dirty rotten shame of reality. 

You would be too funny "Kitch" if your animosity towards these folks wasn't so bitter.  So now the pol is supposed to what fall back on "they should have arrested and deported decades ago."  Sadly that isn't the way the world works.  You have to address the issues as they exist.  I have no problem with what Paul is proposing, but I do find it hilarious that NOW he's interested in running for top dog he's going to face reality.  It's so easy to be a back bencher, a zealot when nothing is at stake.  But then reality hits and you can't play the "pious" game so many commentors play.

"Chrissie78"  I couldn't agree more.  It is why I make fun of zealots they are so blinded by ideology they are always stunned when political reality sets in.  In a lot of ways it is sad that some folks need this "allegiance" to something so badly they lose all sense of objectivity.  But that's the way it is and I make light of them because they are lightweights, at least when it comes to politics.

Someone like my friend "Kitch" and I call him that because I enjoy his writing.  "Kitch" will always be disappointed and always bitter.  Politics is the art of the possible, the art of the shifting position in order to support an underlying ideology but one that is simply a foundation, not something one falls on their sword for.

I understand your position and your disappointment.  Believe me it wasn't a put down.  Politics today is no different than what it was when I was involved. It's simply noisier and publicly nastier.  The nastiness used to stay pretty much in house.