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Sen. Marco Rubio on the Senate Immigration Proposal

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    Sen. Marco Rubio, (R-Fla.), on efforts to reform U.S. immigration policy.

  • Duration 7:10
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My next guest is part of the so called gang of eight have officially released a bipartisan framework for comprehensive immigration reform today.

He talked about -- fixing our broken immigration system.

Is a top priority.

I live surrounded by immigrants my neighbors are immigrants.

My family's immigrants married into a family of immigrants I see immigration every single day I think the good of immigration -- how important is for our future.

As most Americans I recognize how critical an immigration system that works has been for our heritage as it is for our history for our future.

Well joining us now is senator Marco Rubio Republican of Florida senator great to have you -- this.

Thank you and I hear them and here we go.

There -- best path to take going for.

Well I think it's important -- what we've been talking about the set of principles obviously principles are important -- gives you the architecture know the the outline of what you wanna do but now you've got to work on a bill on the details of the bill.

And that's really where this is going to be important and by the way whatever we work on.

I think is a starting point there are 92 other senators who have opinions about immigration there's a House of Representatives.

I know -- gotten away from that process of making law around here but I think it's important for us to follow that process and order to have.

A good product this is a complicated issue -- both sides of this issue -- very legitimate points that need to be addressed.

But I think today was a good first step in what's going to be a pretty long process in terms of getting the right ideas on paper and ultimately in the law now.

When you talk about going through committees going through hearings and talking about regular order here.

-- the senate that's going to be a departure from there.

Our recent history as you -- although our you assured that that is so what is in prospect for this important legislation.

-- I'm I'm concerned that -- they don't it's gonna doomed to failure I think what would be an error is to cook something up secretly in the bring it out to the floor -- give everybody -- take it or leave it.

Proposal I think it's important that we haven't put -- by the way the House of Representatives is gonna have some say here.

As well so -- this is a complicated issue and I arrived at a basic because I just think what we have now is untenable and we've got to begin to address it.

And I know that the undocumented issue gets a lot of attention but what concerns me just as much is we don't have illegal immigration system that works for our country in.

And we don't have enforcement mechanisms that work no sovereign country.

Can can be sovereign for -- of -- doesn't have immigration enforcement mechanisms and that we have the reality of eleven million human beings that are going to be here the rest of their lives.

Whether they have documents or not we have to address that as well.

Senator I have -- -- this issue for some long period of time.

It's seems.

I and I have and I put forward a soldier as a -- over three years ago -- so I will exceed two anyone's leadership on this issue.

Who -- comports to resolving that the soldiers -- -- is simply this if we are to reform immigration laws we must control immigration.

The only way I -- in which -- control immigration is to control our borders and our ports does that make sense to you.

It -- and -- and the principles reflect that the law has to reflect that now but the principles do.

One of the things we -- -- not getting enough attention it's a really big deal -- because I'm from Florida it's a bigger deal to me.

Is our Visa program -- know someone comes and that this country on a temporary Visa.

We know when they come and we have no idea they ever leave.

So one of the things I call for is a full implementation of that system where we're tracking these -- entry and exits 40%.

Of our undocumented people in this country entered legally and overstayed leases there.

The border of course is critically important by the way the borders not just immigration issue it's it's an even bigger national security issues and is an immigration issue.

And finally the workplace enforcement issue is critical as well whether it's.

You know -- if you don't have a control at the workplace enforcement.

You're gonna continue to have a magnet for people to come here without documents.

And senator and and the one of your fellow senators.

Ted Cruz joining the senate this year.

Expressing his reservations if I may quote what he -- said -- audience's benefit.

He said in response to the proposal however I have deep concerns with the proposed path to citizenship.

To allow those who came here illegally be placed on.

Such a path -- is hoping consistent with rule of law and profoundly unfair to the millions of legal immigrants who waited years -- not decades to come to America legally.

You -- your reaction.

And and your -- Well I mean -- long shared the same concern and I think that.

And that's why we've outlined that the way we have you know what we do here for people that are on document that is they have to come forward have to undergo background check -- have to pay fines and back taxes and so forth and then all they get as a temporary status basically -- think of it as a probationary status and allows them to stay in the country and work.

But they don't qualify for any federal benefits they can't turn that -- citizenship or anything else.

And they're gonna have to be -- that status for a significant period of time significant enough so that it's a disincentive to do it in the future for anybody.

After that time has elapsed and after we have certified that the enforcement things -- actually happen because the big mistakes of the past.

Have been they've done the legalization but they haven't done the enforcement.

And hence its lead to eleven million people I don't ever want to have to do this again.

So after both the period of time has elapsed and the enforcement things have happened then the only thing they're going to -- Is the ability to apply for a green card just like anybody else would not in a special way in the regular way by getting in line.

-- qualifying for the -- so they apply for etc.

so all we're gonna give them a chance alternately earned.

Is the chance to do what they should have done in the beginning and that's try to enter the country legally and the other point I've made as they cannot LeapFrog anybody.

Who has applied before them illegally in essence what we don't wanna see a single person who's done at the right way be disadvantaged as a result of this.

Well senator I I have to applaud the outline that you put forward here along with your colleagues the other seven senators in the gang of eight.

Let me ask you this because it's you have said previously.

That it's important to you to -- skilled.

And highly educated yes -- immigrants come to this country as well and they have been frankly.

If I may left behind they are the ones revenue even gotten to the -- -- Are we going to see a UA -- and incentive approach to bring such people to our country they're desperately needed as you well well.

-- digest that fact tomorrow morning will be announcing a bipartisan bill on immigration reform for high tech visas.

And it's -- the thing that the sides proposal I think a lot of people find exciting.

And it's one that I hope will become a part of whatever package ultimately passes -- -- -- right in the 21 century we cannot have an immigration system.

That were only six and a half percent of the people that come here do so based on skill.

Look Obama supporter family based immigration that's how my parents came but in the 21 century -- -- our immigration system has to be more skills base than it is right now.

And that we try to take a first step but that tomorrow when we announce our what they call us them -- -- science technology engineering and math -- Terrific senator -- career -- talking with -- we wish him all the best of -- thank you so much more.

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