Thread: Marco Rubio on immigration: Border security comes first

Jason Noble
4:42 p.m. CDT April 25, 2015

Marco Rubio still supports legal status and a slow road to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, but now says the government must convince Americans the border is secure before taking those steps.

"The key that unlocks our ability to make progress on immigration is to prove to the American people that illegal immigration is under control," Rubio told The Des Moines Register's editorial board on Saturday morning during his first visit to Iowa as a declared candidate for president.

The Republican U.S. senator from Florida was a key player in crafting the 2013 comprehensive immigration reform legislation that cleared the Senate but failed in the House. Rubio's involvement raised his national profile, but damaged his standing with some conservatives he now must court in Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential preference caucuses.

On Saturday, Rubio acknowledged that public appetite for immigration reform is lower than it was even two years ago, necessitating a different approach.

That approach must focus first and foremost on security and efforts that will prevent new migrants from entering or remaining in the country illegally, he said. He and other senators "underestimated" the lack of trust Americans have in the federal government to secure the border.

Gaining back trust will require boosting security along the U.S.-Mexico border, instituting a workable electronic employment verification system in which employers check prospective workers' immigration status, and developing a better tracking system for people who enter the country legally to ensure they don't overstay their visas.

With those measures in place, Rubio said, he would support instituting a process in which immigrants currently living in the country illegally could receive permanent residency and ultimately citizenship after undergoing background checks, paying fines and back taxes and waiting several years.

Data suggest that the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States peaked in 2008 at more than 12 million and since has declined, while new arrivals have fallen every year since 2000.

Rubio said Saturday those trends are based more on economic conditions than border enforcement and other factors. Shifts in the demographics of undocumented immigrants and last year's brief surge in minors illegally crossing the border underscore the need for enhanced security, he said.

"The fact that there's been a slowdown is not because of enforcement," he said. "It's been because of economic factors in the U.S. that made less jobs available. But as soon as there's any economic recovery here, you're going to see those numbers go up again."

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/sto...oard/26362687/

Poor Marco, so lost. He doesn't understand one thing about illegal immigration. Pathetic.

Marko Rubio on amnesty is a prime example of a politician who thinks being a "Hispanic" is more important than being an American. I remember a magazine article that quoted an e-mail from his mother saying something about not abandoning the Hispanics who only want to work or some such crap. If that is accurate it is a prime example of ingratitude. This nation took her and the family in when Castro would have brutalized them. And what do we get? somebody who is more concerned about being a "Hispanic" than what is good for the country.

But what am I? I am of Irish ancestry and the racists who are bureaucrats in control of immigration are stone walling European immigrants, making them wait 13 years, while illegal squatters from Mexico are being give legal protection from deportation.

I am a Caucasian male therefore a second class citizen and not a member of a privileged race.

Originally Posted by csarbww

Marko Rubio on amnesty is a prime example of a politician who thinks being a "Hispanic" is more important than being an American. I remember a magazine article that quoted an e-mail from his mother saying something about not abandoning the Hispanics who only want to work or some such crap. If that is accurate it is a prime example of ingratitude. This nation took her and the family in when Castro would have brutalized them. And what do we get? somebody who is more concerned about being a "Hispanic" than what is good for the country.

But what am I? I am of Irish ancestry and the racists who are bureaucrats in control of immigration are stone walling European immigrants, making them wait 13 years, while illegal squatters from Mexico are being give legal protection from deportation.

I am a Caucasian male therefore a second class citizen and not a member of a privileged race.

While I don't want any more immigrants in the country from anywhere because we're full up, over-developed, over-populated without jobs, money, water or other resources to sustain our existing population, let alone more, I understand your position and the unfairness is blatant. I just don't understand these immigration policies we've been burdened with at all, not in anyway, shape or form. It's madness, insanity, reckless abandon of a government's obligations to citizens and our nation, and so far, the only rational explanation I can find after seeking an answer for over 10 years is: they're on the take with the cartels who need that southern border open and their drug runners protected after they get here so they can cavort around pretending to be workers when that's just a front for their drug running and other illegal enterprises hauling the drugs and people in and our money out. The more that get in, the more that stay, the more power they glean for the cartels.

Originally Posted by Judy

While I don't want any more immigrants in the country from anywhere because we're full up, over-developed, over-populated without jobs, money, water or other resources to sustain our existing population, let alone more, I understand your position and the unfairness is blatant. I just don't understand these immigration policies we've been burdened with at all, not in anyway, shape or form. It's madness, insanity, reckless abandon of a government's obligations to citizens and our nation, and so far, the only rational explanation I can find after seeking an answer for over 10 years is: they're on the take with the cartels who need that southern border open and their drug runners protected after they get here so they can cavort around pretending to be workers when that's just a front for their drug running and other illegal enterprises hauling the drugs and people in and our money out. The more that get in, the more that stay, the more power they glean for the cartels.

For years our immigration policies have been driven by the Chamber of Commerce, corporations, and big business.

Originally Posted by Jean

Jason Noble
4:42 p.m. CDT April 25, 2015

Marco Rubio still supports legal status and a slow road to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, but now says the government must convince Americans the border is secure before taking those steps.

"The key that unlocks our ability to make progress on immigration is to prove to the American people that illegal immigration is under control," Rubio told The Des Moines Register's editorial board on Saturday morning during his first visit to Iowa as a declared candidate for president.

The Republican U.S. senator from Florida was a key player in crafting the 2013 comprehensive immigration reform legislation that cleared the Senate but failed in the House. Rubio's involvement raised his national profile, but damaged his standing with some conservatives he now must court in Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential preference caucuses.

On Saturday, Rubio acknowledged that public appetite for immigration reform is lower than it was even two years ago, necessitating a different approach.

That approach must focus first and foremost on security and efforts that will prevent new migrants from entering or remaining in the country illegally, he said. He and other senators "underestimated" the lack of trust Americans have in the federal government to secure the border.

Gaining back trust will require boosting security along the U.S.-Mexico border, instituting a workable electronic employment verification system in which employers check prospective workers' immigration status, and developing a better tracking system for people who enter the country legally to ensure they don't overstay their visas.

With those measures in place, Rubio said, he would support instituting a process in which immigrants currently living in the country illegally could receive permanent residency and ultimately citizenship after undergoing background checks, paying fines and back taxes and waiting several years.

Data suggest that the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States peaked in 2008 at more than 12 million and since has declined, while new arrivals have fallen every year since 2000.

Rubio said Saturday those trends are based more on economic conditions than border enforcement and other factors. Shifts in the demographics of undocumented immigrants and last year's brief surge in minors illegally crossing the border underscore the need for enhanced security, he said.

"The fact that there's been a slowdown is not because of enforcement," he said. "It's been because of economic factors in the U.S. that made less jobs available. But as soon as there's any economic recovery here, you're going to see those numbers go up again."

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/sto...oard/26362687/

M RUBIO
BORDER SECURITY COME FIRST . THAT A GOOD ONE GOV JAN ALSO SAID TE SAME THING TO OBAMA & DID HIS LISTEN? NO WHY YOU WANT TO RUN FOR THE WH .ISEE EVERY ONE IS GOING TO DO EVERY THING FOR USA BUT DON'T DO SHIT FOR US . EVERY THING IS FOR THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. & ALL OF THE OTHER COUNTRY & THE HELL WITH US ALL OF YOU JUST LIE YOU ARE ALL GOING TO DO EVERY THING . I DON'T SEE WHY THE GOV DON'T STAND UP TO OBAMA YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BACK BONE AT ALL.

Hmmm, if I am to believe any of this bull coming from republicans of all colors and stripes, why do we not have a republican sponsored bill in Congress, pass it, implement it and prior to election we get a taste of whether it works at all??

They can't lose any face by doing this. If the y pass it, Obama vetoes it. If so Dems. must help override the veto of expose themselves to not being supportive of secure borders.

The republicans are not doing that, but using it for political points and have no intention of delivering as proven by present non-action. I feel bad for folks that fall for this, as they have over and over,

Originally Posted by kevinssdad

Hmmm, if I am to believe any of this bull coming from republicans of all colors and stripes, why do we not have a republican sponsored bill in Congress, pass it, implement it and prior to election we get a taste of whether it works at all??

They can't lose any face by doing this. If the y pass it, Obama vetoes it. If so Dems. must help override the veto of expose themselves to not being supportive of secure borders.

The republicans are not doing that, but using it for political points and have no intention of delivering as proven by present non-action. I feel bad for folks that fall for this, as they have over and over,

We're 6 votes short in the US Senate. The question should be why aren't there at least 6 Democrats who care enough about the general welfare of our citizenry to pass such a bill, vote with Republicans, and get such a bill to the desk of the President who will veto it of course, because we're 1 President short of achieving the goal.

I think Republicans need to start pointing fingers at Democrats and calling a spade a spade, which is any representative in the US Congress who is opposed to stopping illegal immigration is on the take with the cartels, the sole beneficiaries of current immigration policy, both legal and illegal. And for those "businesses" whose Boards and CEO's support this crap, think about it, they're probably all coke heads who need their dealer and don't want him/her deported and may have already been threatened with exposure if they don't get involved and help the cartels. Law enforcement that dances with illegal aliens at the expense of US citizens to build "trust in the immigrant community", oh puleeze don't make me puke, they're on the take with the cartels and lining their pockets with confiscations to make it worth their while. Wake Up, Naive People.

None of these people support immigration because of "compassion" or "love" or "we're a nation of immigrants". None of their positions are supported by economics, intelligence, common sense, Latino Vote, compassion or love. Oh no, the facts completely refute their stances, so it's none of these, it's a dark, sinister, evil stance based on criminal activity.

Originally Posted by Judy

We're 6 votes short in the US Senate. The question should be why aren't there at least 6 Democrats who care enough about the general welfare of our citizenry to pass such a bill, vote with Republicans, and get such a bill to the desk of the President who will veto it of course, because we're 1 President short of achieving the goal.

That's right.

Bravo and absolutely right. We know about treacherous RINO Republicans. Is it not curious that in the entire Democrap party there is not one--not one patriot.

People we really need to say this. DEMOCRATS, ANY DEMOCRAT IS A MARXIST. Don't be afraid that you will alienate people by sounding to extreme. Trust me the dumb asses are gullible and ignorant. They will remember Marxists attached to Democrats long after they forget who said it. And by hearing it they will remember and believe it.