Outspoken Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte has never been one to stay silent on immigration issues, even as other lawmakers have opted to push the debate to the backburner in favor of solving the crisis in Syria.

Immigration reform activists have several upcoming protests, many of which were already planned prior to the recent build up of attention in Syria.

"[Other issues] should not deter us from getting to [immigration] as soon as possible," Goodlatte said on a WAMU radio show earlier this week.

Despite the packed schedule facing everyone in congress, Goodlatte hopes to see things moving as early as next month.

"Those bills are ready to go to the floor of the House and it's my hope they come to the floor of the House as soon as possible," he said.

Goodlatte has maintained that he supports some reform but he has been known to be wary when it comes to going to far with it. He wants there to be specific structure and strict "enforcement mechanisms" in place before the reforms take place. He acknowledges that young undocumented citizens play a role in the opinion differences among leaders in the government.

"We don't know what this bill is going to look like...but whether it's a legal status or whether it includes a legal status and then a way to earn citizenship through education, military service, or types of employment, whatever the case might be, all of this is being discussed," he said. One of the big obstacles to reaching a final bill, he added, was trying to find a way to discourage future immigrants from bringing their children to America in the hopes of obtaining legal status for them through similar legislation."