GOP embraces immigration reform in appeal to Hispanic voters

But Roy Beck, executive director of NumbersUSA, which seeks to reduce immigration, called the Obama proposal a "Hail Mary pass" that would never pass the Republican-dominated House. Republicans won't gain politically from a compromise with Democrats, Beck said, since new immigrants tend to vote for Democrats.

If a compromise is going to be reached on immigration reform, he said, it will be Democrats who have to give in and abandon efforts to provide a path to citizenship.

"The platform of no compromise won't survive," Beck said.