This upcoming Sunday, the people of Venezuela will hold an election that, if legitimate, would put an end to years of the oppressive Maduro narco-regime. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued a statement in support of the Venezuelan people: “The...
News
Latest News
Rubio: “La Tenacidad y Valentía del Pueblo venezolano Estarán a la Vista”
Este próximo domingo, el pueblo venezolano tendrá una elección que, de ser legítima, pondría fin a años de opresión por parte del narco-régimen de Maduro. El senador estadounidense Marco Rubio (R-FL) grabó un mensaje de video en español y emitió una declaración en...
Rubio, Scott, Colleagues to Biden Admin: No Privileges Should Be Given to 9/11 Terrorist
Twenty-three years ago, the United States was attacked by Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001. Now, Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in a U.S. court for his role in the attack, has requested the U.S. Department of Justice to allow a prisoner transfer...
Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host virtual Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of Senator Rubio’s...
Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Ensuring Continuity in Veterans’ Health Act
As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) opens up new facilities, many veterans are losing access to the VA’s Community Care Program and, consequently, their long-term healthcare providers. Veterans throughout the country have reported a loss of care, including...
Rubio Introduces Bill to Strengthen U.S.-India Security Partnership
The U.S.-India partnership is vital to countering influences from Communist China. In order to strengthen this partnership, it is essential to enhance our strategic diplomatic, economic, and military relationship with New Delhi. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)...
Mike Huckabee Surprised Democrats Would Go For “Fairly Rigid Pathway”
Huckabee: “I think you’re on the right track with the immigration bill. It sounds like it is a very responsible and even-handed approach that I hope Republicans and Democrats can come together on. Because Lord knows, this has been an ongoing problem. Not resolving it is an unacceptable thing.”
Interview with Mike Huckabee
Senator Marco Rubio
April 17, 2013
http://youtu.be/d0UyOIupOng?t=1m34s
Senator Marco Rubio: “Well first of all, it’s important to understand what the law is today. The law today says that if you are illegally in the United States, it doesn’t prevent you from becoming a citizen one day. All it says is that you have to leave the country and you have to wait ten years before you can become a permanent resident, and then another three to five years before you become a citizen. So there is an existing pathway to citizenship right now for people that are illegally in the country. The problem is that millions of people that are in this country illegally have been here for more than a decade, and they’ve got children that are U.S. citizens, and they’re not going to leave. And so the choice before us is: we’re not going to round them up and deport them. We’re just not that kind of society. We can’t ignore the problem. So what we do is we ask people to come forward, undergo a background check, pay a significant fine – obviously if they’ve committed any crimes they’ll have to leave – pay an application fee. And in return for all of that, the only thing they’re going to get is a temporary worker permit that allows them to work in the United States and that you have to renew that after six years. It’s not forever.
“Beyond it, you won’t qualify for any federal benefits and that’s important to understand. You can’t go on welfare. You can’t get food stamps. You can’t even get ObamaCare. The only thing you qualify is to work and pay your taxes. And you only get that for six years and then at the six year point you have to reapply, pay another fine, pay another application fee, and you have to prove you’ve been paying taxes the last six years and that you’re employed. You have to prove that you’re not a burden on society, and then you still have to stay in that for another four years. And then assuming that ten years have gone by that you’ve been in that status, and assuming the border’s been secured, that e-verify has been put in place across the country, that entry-exit tracking system for visas has been put in place – because I don’t know if people are aware of this but 40 percent of the people that are illegally here came in legally, then overstayed. Assuming all three of those things have happened and the ten years have gone by, then only thing you can get is a chance to apply for a green card. It’s not awarded to you. You apply for a green card and, of course, if you get that you become a permanent resident. And my last point is, during the first five years of your green card, you don’t get federal benefits either. So I think it’s a responsible approach to it. It’s not perfect. Nothing is. But it’s certainly a lot better than leaving things the way they are right now.”
Mike Huckabee: “You know listening to the various stages that a person has to go through, I’m not that surprised the Republicans would be for it. It sounds like, you know, like a fairly rigid pathway. I’m surprised the Democrats are going to be for it.”
…
Mike Huckabee: “Well, Senator, great to have you here and I appreciate your time this afternoon. I think you’re on the right track with the immigration bill. It sounds like it is a very responsible and even-handed approach that I hope Republicans and Democrats can come together on. Because Lord knows, this has been an ongoing problem. Not resolving it is an unacceptable thing. And I commend you for your leadership and trying to get it at least pushed forward.”