Recently, Rand Paul gave a speech on overhauling American immigration policy, and defended his ideas on Fox News after  critical quotes from Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh.

Now College of New Jersey student Colin Snell comes to the Kentucky senator’s defense in The College Conservative.

Rising GOP Star Rand Paul shocked conservatives last week after revealing a controversial immigration stance in a speech to the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In his remarks, the Kentucky Senator clarified his disdain for deportation and acknowledged that the US is not capable of deporting 12 million people. Both the mainstream media and fellow conservatives chastised his plan, calling it a “Pathway to Citizenship,” even though he carefully avoided that term in his speech.

As the Republican Party looks to gain ground with Hispanic Voters, Paul’s plan was ironically met with contempt from pillars of the GOP Status Quo.

…As conservatives, we must acknowledge that we are losing the immigration debate. Consequently, this not only dampers our ability to protect the border, but it also helps explain our failure to court Hispanic voters. Senator Paul has recognized this problem, and is attempting to address it: “Immigration Reform will not occur until Conservative Republicans, like myself, become part of the solution. I am here today to begin that conversation.”

Snell concludes:

..In my opinion, conservatives fail with Hispanics not because conservatism fails Hispanics, but because of a failure to properly articulate conservatism. The Republican Party has a lot to offer that Hispanics should find appealing: (The ideas of hard work, family values, and business friendly policies).There is no reason why the GOP should not be in contention for the Latino vote. I see Rand Paul’s speech as the inception of the New Republican Party. I hope to see the “big three” (Paul, Rubio, and Ted Cruz) become the poster boys of Republican success, and make our platforms more marketable to minority voters.

While Paul’s boldness disheartened many conservatives this week, he has entered the national immigration discussion, and by doing so will only garner more credibility for the Republican Party. While Paul’s plan is not entirely consistent with my own immigration views, I realize that it will open new opportunities for Republicans, help us grow our base, attain control of the immigration debate, and set us up for a sweeping victory in 2016.