In the aftermath of the 2012 national elections there came news that Puerto Rico had voted to seek to become the 51st state of the United States of America.

If the people of Puerto Rico want to become a part of the United States of America, let’s embrace them. It doesn’t make much sense that Puerto Rico is governed by a Congress in which they are not allowed to participate, an executive whom they did not elect, and a judiciary whose justices they did not confirm.

One of the strongest advocates for statehood was one of the nation’s finest conservative governors, Puerto Rico’s Louis Fortuno, who, sadly, lost his re-election bid. However, his support shows the issue should not fall on a partisan divide.

Despite all of America’s challenges, we are still a nation of hope and opportunity for people throughout the world.

America proved that again on Nov. 6.

Despite nearly half of the electorate voting for someone else other than Barack Obama, those who voted for Mitt Romney did not riot in the streets or call for the overthrow of a duly elected president.

The election is over.

It is my hope, and I believe the hope of all Americans, that we come together as a nation to build a better future.

Yet, one thing is clear. In spite of an election process that often brings out the worst in Americans, there remain people from across the world — be they in Puerto Rico, Cuba, China or elsewhere in the world — who see America as the world’s shining light of liberty and economic opportunity.

Moreover, there remain millions of people who are in America today — illegally — but working in our homes and our businesses — raising their families — who still see America as the world’s shining light of liberty and economic opportunity.

Some estimates place the number at 12 million — some higher — some lower.

But, the result is still the same. We have living amongst us people who have the same hopes and aspirations for themselves and their children as those of us who are American citizens.

As a United States senator I believed immigration reform was critical for America.

Unfortunately, politics and posturing being what they were then — and what they are now — too many convolutions of how one got to reform became one too many and reform never happened.

It’s time.

It’s time we reject the notion that we are going to send 12 million fellow human beings back to places they fled to escape poverty, crime and hopelessness.

It’s time we, as conservatives — as Republicans — as Americans — embrace the fact that the failure to stem illegal immigration to America is a shared failure by leaders of both political parties — including our own.

My evolution on this issue is, I believe, reflective of the evolution of many Americans.

We need to protect our borders. But, we don’t protect our borders by depriving those who already got through them of having the opportunity to have a better life.

Democrats and Republicans don’t have to work too hard to make this happen.

Let us agree that illegal immigrants who have obeyed the rules of our society — who have not broken other laws beyond that which got them here illegally — and have contributed to society should be granted a path to citizenship. Not getting ahead of the line — but getting into the line.

Let’s get them Social Security numbers — paying taxes — being visible and vocal members of our communities. Embrace them as our neighbors — and celebrate them as our fellow Americans.

Embracing our immigration heritage and embracing rule of law can be accomplished simultaneously.

Perhaps we should levy a penalty on those who have been here illegally by requiring them to perform some public service to their community — or pay a small fine as a way to cover the costs of processing their application to become an American citizen.

But, it’s time for America to stop standing in the way of people who want to become Americans.

I have always believed in American Exceptionalism.

But, that has to mean without exception.

That means that what makes America Exceptional is that we don’t stand in the way of the hopes and dreams of our fellow human beings who seek to have the same hopes and dreams that we, as Americans, have enjoyed throughout our lives.

It means we stand together and find a way to give illegal immigrants a new name for themselves and their children: Americans.

It’s time for Democrats and Republicans to throw out the political calculations and the self-professed high moral ground each party claims to occupy.

And, for the people of Puerto Rico, whatever choice you make, in the end, know that America still remains the last best hope for the world.

Norm Coleman, a former St. Paul mayor and Republican U.S. senator from Minnesota, is chair of the American Action Network, “a 501(c)(4) ‘action tank’ that will create, encourage and promote center-right policies based on the principles of freedom, limited government, American exceptionalism and strong national security.”