President Obama made the case again in his State of the Union speech Tuesday for immigration reform. He got help on that push a day later from a group that has been at odds with him on other issues - the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

On Friday, he got further aid from another unlikely source, Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Rubio has often been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate by both of the front-running GOP presidential contenders - Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Rubio also has been a frequent critic of giving undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship - a position that's drawn the ire of many Hispanics. Some have called him a "traitor" to his fellow Latinos.

Yet Rubio's voice might finally be the prod needed to get staunch opponents of anything but securing U.S. borders to see that immigration reform demands much more.

In comments to the Hispanic Leadership Network, Rubio implored his fellow Republicans to address the legal status of young illegal immigrants who were brought to the country as children and want to go to college or join the military. "There is broad bipartisan support for the notion that we should figure out a way to accommodate them. I hope Republicans and conservatives take the lead in solving this." We hope so too.

His words were certainly welcome as some GOP presidential candidates have jockeyed on the campaign trail to see who can become the toughest on reform, and who'll be left to block the door of entry to any who've come here illegally - along with children they brought with them or those born here after they arrived.

With Florida's GOP presidential primary set for Tuesday, immigration has taken center stage with Rubio having to step in between Romney and Gingrich to ask them to cool the rhetoric - and for Gingrich to pull an ad calling Romney anti-immigrant. Gingrich complied.

They should listen to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the issue. The chamber, in a report released Wednesday, focused on a business failing of the immigration system. The group said U.S. policies make it difficult for immigrant entrepreneurs to make a home in the states by expelling foreign students after they graduate from U.S. universities and making it difficult for foreign entrepreneurs to get visas.

Obama's State of the Union address targeted both concerns. "Today, there are thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens... They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. ... Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities, but as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense ... Let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be further enriching this nation."

He's right. A lot about the nation's immigration policy makes no sense, but it is especially true on these issues. Congress may not be able to agree on much this year, but members should follow the lead of Rubio and Obama and act on these immigrant issues involving young people who want to go to school, serve in the military or work as entrepreneurs after coming here on student visas. It makes sense and it's in our best interest.