Marco Rubio: End immigration deferral program

Ianus · 07-24-2014, 08:07 PM

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/0...am-109353.html

Quote:

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a key figure in immigration reform, said Thursday that an Obama administration program that stops deportations of young undocumented immigrants should eventually end.

In a statement issued after meeting with key Central American leaders, Rubio noted that the unilateral move by President Barack Obama to create the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in 2012 immediately preceded the wave of unaccompanied minors from Central America.

Because of that, “it is in our interest to wind down this program,” Rubio said.

“If you are not currently in it, you should not be eligible for it,” said Rubio, a potential 2016 presidential contender. “For President Obama to raise hopes it may actually be unilaterally expanded is irresponsible and threatens to make this problem even worse.”

Rubio also urged U.S. officials to make clear that children currently coming to the southern border in record numbers would not qualify for deferred action from deportations. To be eligible for the program, informally called DACA, immigrants must have been in the United States since before June 15, 2007 and be born after June 15, 1981 — so none of the unaccompanied children being apprehended would qualify.

More than 550,000 young undocumented immigrants have qualified for DACA, according to statistics from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Under DACA, certain young undocumented immigrants who have been in the country for years are given a two-year reprieve from deportations, along with work permits. The program is renewable.

Around the time Obama issued his directive — in the heat of his reelection bid in 2012 — Rubio was known to be working on legislation that would have provided legal status to some young immigrants brought here illegally.

The role that the 2012 Obama administration initiative has played in the ongoing influx of unaccompanied migrant children has been hotly debated on Capitol Hill.

In fiscal 2013, which began Oct. 1, 2012, nearly 28,000 unaccompanied children were apprehended at the southern border, according to Customs and Border Protection. So far this fiscal year, that figure has soared to more than 57,000.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has proposed barring federal funds to expand the deferred action program as a condition of approving emergency funding for the border crisis. When asked about Cruz’s plan, Rubio said it would be “incredibly disruptive” to repeal it for immigrants who have already benefited from the program.

In a letter sent to Obama Thursday, Cruz and the rest of the Texas GOP congressional delegation urged Obama to suspend future executive orders that they said would “weaken enforcement of our immigration laws.” It blamed DACA for sending the “regrettable message that illegal immigration will not be punished in the United States.”

Rubio also said Thursday that lawmakers need to “responsibly change” a 2008 anti-trafficking law that has made it more difficult to deport unaccompanied children from countries other than Mexico or Canada.

Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández and El Salvador Foreign Minister Hugo Martínez made the rounds on Capitol Hill on Thursday, meeting with key lawmakers such as Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In a morning appearance with Pelosi, Molina and Hernández stressed the prevalence of drug trafficking and violence was a primary reason for the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, but Hernández pointed to another reason.

“Also it is a matter that arises from the lack of clarity … the ambiguity that has become the hallmark of the policies and the debates that are being carried on, the question of immigration reform in the United States,” Hernandez said, speaking through a translator. “And that is a situation that the coyotes are very perversely paying very much an opportunity to exploit.”

Dres2011 · 07-24-2014, 08:59 PM

Pass the dream act then.

2Face · 07-24-2014, 09:06 PM

Rubio can't stand the fact that hispanic immigrants other than Cubans are getting some type of benefits and help by this program. There's no other explanation. This is all about power and prestige. Rubio is a traitor and a disgrace to the entire hispanic and immigrant community. I mean this is an absolutely filthy desire of his to end the DACA.

Malign0n · 07-24-2014, 09:07 PM

Agreed. Pass the Dream Act. Pass Immigration Reform (not just in your chamber).

Otherwise, I take this as a way to take away DACA from me.

This is the reason why you shouldn't trust nativist Republicans.

NeedHelp · 07-24-2014, 09:07 PM

whatever he says, it won't happen. damn cubanos.

NK74 · 07-24-2014, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Face

Rubio can't stand the fact that hispanic immigrants other than Cubans are getting some type of benefits and help by this program. There's no other explanation.

Rubio can't stand that Cruz is gaining popularity in the republican primary polls, while his are falling because he supported immigration reform last year.

This move is a further part of his strategy to disassociate himself from his support for reform that harms him in the primary while not giving any more room for Cruz to punch him.

NK74 · 07-24-2014, 09:32 PM

And this is just a foretaste of the effect the fight for the republican nomination will have on immigration policy.

Barring a miracle, we are truly fucked now for at least another couple of years.

fl_dreamer · 07-24-2014, 10:48 PM

And I hope this kids realize they are ruining the lives of millions of people. I am not hating on them
But clearly their actions are affecting our lives

kabs · 07-25-2014, 12:05 AM

These people lack common sense. I swear they are pulling reasons out the air because they just don't want to deal with immigration.

bigdreamer2010 · 07-25-2014, 12:43 AM

Sounds like a sound bite taken out of context. Anyway, Rubio pulled 55% of the hispanic vote in FL(probably mostly Cubans) but is only pulling 28% favorability among hispanics nationwide. Since he hopes to be president or at least VP, he can't afford to go against the widely popular DACA program but he still has to "posture" for his conservative base. Additionally, notice he said "wind down", "If you are not currently in it, you should not be eligible for it" which means not expand it... Nothing in that article quotes him saying repeal or end DACA.. That's political suicide... Finally, note the general GOP's position on DACA. Even in the GOP's lawsuit against Obama there is no mention of DACA. DACA is here to stay. Not because of the GOP is welcoming it with open arms but because of the political pain they would face if they all start yelling REPEAL at the top of their lungs.

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Marco Rubio: End immigration deferral program