Marco Rubio: Riding to the Immigration Rescue

Marco Rubio: Riding to the Immigration Rescue

Marco Rubio, Florida's GOP senator, unveils his reform ideas to 'modernize' the system and put illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship.

By MATTHEW KAMINSKI
Marco Rubio—41-year-old son of working-class Cuban exiles—has lived the upwardly mobile immigrant experience. In his fast rise, the Florida Republican has also experienced the politics of immigration. That story isn't so inspirational.

During his successful Senate campaign two years ago, an attack leaflet picturing "the Real Rubio" alongside an image of Che Guevara was sent to GOP voters. The mailer noted that Mr. Rubio championed laws in the state legislature to give children of illegal immigrants in-state tuition and health benefits. After going to Washington, he was then criticized for not doing enough on immigration reform. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus branded him "a wolf in sheep's clothing" and a Miami-based Hispanic group called him "a Benedict Arnold."

That may be mild compared to what's coming. Florida's junior senator and one of America's most prominent Hispanic politicians wants to take the Republican lead on immigration reform. Getting out front of President Obama's campaign pledge to overhaul the system in his second term, Mr. Rubio is laying out his ideas for possible legislation.

Whether Mr. Rubio is courageous or foolhardy, the outcome on Capitol Hill and the impact on his career will tell the story. Immigration has long been a profitable wedge issue for Democrats and Republicans. On Wednesday at the Biltmore Hotel near his home here, Mr. Rubio spells out a reform plan that charges up the middle.

His wholesale fix tries to square—triangulate, if you will—the liberal fringe that seeks broad amnesty for illegal immigrants and the hard right's obsession with closing the door. Mr. Rubio would ease the way for skilled engineers and seasonal farm workers while strengthening border enforcement and immigration laws. As for the undocumented migrants in America today—eight to 12 million or so—he proposes to let them "earn" a working permit and, one day, citizenship.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...003050604.html

I like Rubio. He is a big supporter.

I dont like him at all, hes Cuban.

He is just for the votes

Rubio is a half supporter, this was the guy who wanted only military service for a green card. Than you had to wait 20 million years for a CHANCE at citizenship.

He's full of shit. Republicans just want to make noise and talk about CIR, but have no intention of doing shit.

Fuck you Rubio

true. f*ck this kid. who's next

all he does is talk talk talk... now conservatives rednecks think that we feel entitlef to something ... well most cubans get here thinking they have more rights that citizens (and i say most because i've met cubans that actually come here and work their ass off instead of feeding off the goverment)... he will never do anything for immigration reform... he does all this talk for political points.

I agree Rubio is a fucking quack. "I wanted to rip off the Dream Act, but Obama was faster -cry-. Obama did nothing for the immigration reform (and neither did I, but I am a Cuban wasp therefore I am meant for this)".

Really if that guy was anywhere close to being serious to getting immigration reform done, he would have introduced his bill and praised Obama for getting something done for the time being, not stomping like a child that didn't get the thing done their way.

The whole talk about increasing caps for advance degree holders and investors is absolute bullshit, none of these categories experience backlog (except for india and china). You can make the process easier, simpler, and cheaper, but adding extra green cards is pointless and ridiculous. You increase the numerical cap for a category that is not backlogged, what happens then? Absolutely nothing.

Fucking media trying to make a messiah out of him "child of cuban immigrants - who arrived legally" well of course they did since all you need to do is raft the couple miles across the gulf and you get the red carpet treatment. Cubans are the only ones allowed to legally EWI into US and get permanent residency after a year.

I don't care what is he as long as he supports CIR/DA.