WASHINGTON — House Speaker John Boehner says the vast majority of House Republicans believe they need to tackle the immigration issue.

But he says securing the borders must come first, and the House will take a step-by-step approach, not do a single big bill like the Senate.

He also said he’s more interested in getting it right than in meeting any deadline.

Boehner spoke at a news conference Thursday, a day after House Republicans met to hash out their way forward on immigration.

They emerged with no solution to one of the biggest issues in the debate: What to do about the 11 million immigrants already here illegally.

Boehner refused to say whether he supports a pathway to citizenship or whether the House would ever agree to legal status for unauthorized immigrants.