A week after leaving a conversation between undocumented immigrant DREAMers and Rep. Steve King, R-IA, Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, spoke about his sentiments and plans for immigration.

According to Paul, he has a "great deal of sympathy" for undocumented immigrants who came to the to the U.S. as children. The Republican Kentucky senator also confirmed he supports immigration reform.

Paul said, at Greater Louisville Inc.'s Capitol Connection luncheon at Louisville, "I'm actually for immigration reform. I could find a place to give work visas to those who want to stay and work, but it has to be done within the framework of law."

Although Paul stated he favors immigration reform, he voted against the comprehensive immigration reform bill in the U.S. Senate in June 2013. Paul addressed his opposition to the bill during the luncheon, stating, "I didn't think it would work." Paul said President Barack Obama and Democratic lawmakers have to better improve and compromise on the scope of the bill with Republicans.

Paul has previously voiced his opposition to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that exempted up to 500,000 undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children from deportation. DACA, initiated by Obama in 2012, encountered heavy opposition from the GOP, including legislation from the House of Representations for the program's end.

"If you want to let people stay in our country with PhDs and Masters [degrees], almost everybody, Republican and Democrat, is for that. That could be done tomorrow, but it is held hostage to a big bill," said Paul, via Kentucky station WDRB.

Paul previously said he favors immigration reform during an appearance of Fox News Channel's "On The Record" with Greta van Susteren. Paul was captured on video leaving a conversation between two DACA recipients and Rep. King. One of the DACA recipients, Erika Andiola, said Paul had "no courage" to stay for the conversation. Paul defended himself, stated he had another interview with a reporter about 10 feet away.

"I've always been open to discussing immigration," said Paul during "On the Record."

He continued, "I'm very open to discussing that I think there should be some kind of immigration reform, but I don't think you can do it without first securing the border, and that's the problem with the president doing this unlawfully."

Paul has made it clear he's against granting amnesty. While he supports legal immigration and understands many "seek the freedom to make a life for themselves," illegal immigration is a "clear threat" to national security. Paul also favors a border fence and increased border patrol.

"Immigrants should meet the current requirements, which should be enforced and updated," Paul noted on his Senate website. "I realize that subsidizing something creates more of it, and do not think the taxpayer should be forced to pay for welfare, medical care and other expenses for illegal immigrants. Once the subsidies for illegal immigration are removed, the problem will likely become far less common."

Paul is rumored to be a potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate. At the Louisville luncheon, he sidestepped questions about the 2016 presidential elections

"I like the supposition," said Paul.