Marco Rubio Says The DREAM Act Will Encourage 'Chain Migration' (VIDEO)

In an interview with Juan Williams on Sunday, Florida Senator Marco Rubio explained that he doesn't support The DREAM Act --- a measure supported by 90% of U.S. Latinos -- because it would encourage "chain migration" and illegal immigration.

According to documents obtained by the Tampa Times, however, Rubio's own family were beneficiaries of "chain migration." Rubio's father was, "sponsored by his sister-in-law, who was already living in Miami and who signed an affidavit in 1956 stating the family was "desirous of entering the United States of America as permanent residents," according to the Tampa Times report.

The DREAM Act is a bill which, if passed, would provide a path towards citizenship to some undocumented immigrants who have served in the military or attended college, and came to the U.S. at a young age. The measure is supported by 91 percent of Latinos, according to a recent study conducted by The Pew Hispanic Center.

While Rubio says he'd like to find a bipartisan solution to allow some undocumented youth to stay, including a Florida high school valedictorian who faced deportation, he doesn't offer specifics as to how his solution would be any different than the DREAM Act.

"What I want to do is figure something out to help people like her, in that situation, that is bipartisan, that unites us, that can get the sixty votes, but that doesn't have some of the problems that the DREAM Act, as currently drafted has," Rubio said in the interview.

Rubio adds that he'd like to overhaul the visa program and "modernize the legal immigration system." He also notes that he doesn't see Arizona's harsh immigration law as a "model for the country."

Conversely, GOP candidate Mitt Romney, who Rubio recently endorsed, labeled the same law just that -- a "model for the nation."

Comments

[WeRtheFuture]

08:50 PM on 04/23/2012

I am a DREAMer, from NY. I am a freshman at Baruch College under a full tuition scholarship (because I earned it, not because I'm undocumented). I agree with much of what Senator Rubio said. The DREAM Act should be polished up to suit more Republicans. Advocates shouldn't be worried about Democrats. We should confront the issues that Republicans, like Senator Rubio have.

1. The Chain Migration is a key issue. I believe I should not have the right to "sponsor" my parents for citizenship. That hurts to say because I love my parents more than you can imagine but they are ultimately the reason that I am in this predicament. I do not see why they should be rewarded for putting me in this situation.

2. A Republican needs to step up and offer an alternative to the DREAM Act. The Republican side has been quick to criticize but slow to act on their own. If a Republican sponsored DREAM Act was to emerge it would rekindle the DREAM Act debate.

3. Did you know the DREAM Act has an age cap on it? In 2010 it was 32. 2012 was lost because of an "election." Okay, it's just an excuse to put my dreams on the back-burner. I get it, but all I want to do is contribute to this country.

I love America. And I hope you will support all the DREAMers who just want a fair chance at this thing called life.

[beto lara]

07:36 PM on 06/22/2012

Fixing the Chain Migration issue would go along way of making the DREAM ACT less problematic to me.

[Armando Cedillo]

06:37 PM on 04/07/2012

Chain migration needs to be ended. America's population problem is largely a product of excessive illegal immigration.

[Jeffrey Leathem]

01:37 PM on 04/05/2012

This is big talk coming from someone granted political asylum for fleeing an impoverished country where his family had decided his future looked bleak. I wonder if he'd be a national assembly member in Cuba if his family had stayed there.

[AIlegroTroppo]

01:04 AM on 04/05/2012

I agree with Rubio on this. Any time illegal migrants are given privileges, it encourages more illegal migration.

[Richard Imfeld]

09:35 PM on 04/04/2012

I was surprised to hear a republican politician say that there is a need for immigration reform. If this was sincere on the part of Senetor Marco Rubio, then lets take on the job of keeping an eye on him to see what he does regarding putting on the table a republican alternative to fixing the immigration problem in this country.

[Mayoyo]

02:39 PM on 04/04/2012

Rubio is the Latino Allen West...

[Gwendolyn Rouse]

09:19 AM on 04/04/2012

This move just really end the Presidental race because this will be another block of voters not voting for Mitt Romney. Mitt Romeny is now only left with all white Republicans voters.

[Gwendolyn Rouse]

09:16 AM on 04/04/2012

What I want to do is figure something out to help people like her, in that situation, that is bipartisan, that unites us, that can get the sixty votes, but that doesn't have some of the problems that the DREAM Act, as currently drafted has," Rubio said in the interview.

This is the same lie Republicans have been saying for over 50 years. They love to talk that talk, but never put their talk into action. Bah, Bah, Bah = GOP.

[Gwendolyn Rouse]

09:14 AM on 04/04/2012

In an interview with Juan Williams on Sunday, Florida Senator Marco Rubio explained that he doesn't support The DREAM Act --- a measure supported by 90% of U.S. Latinos -- because it would encourage "chain migration" and illegal immigration.

He just told you Latinos I got mind Dream Act, but you can not have one for yourself. He care nothing about you Latinos just like Mitt Romney care nothing about you Latinos.

[Mayoyo]

02:40 PM on 04/04/2012

The Dream Act without the dream...

[Gwendolyn Rouse]

09:12 AM on 04/04/2012

Marco Rubio Says The DREAM Act Will Encourage 'Chain Migration'

I see this fool must be campaigning for the VP spot on Mitt Romney ticket. What a hateful clown and he is an illegal immigrants himself.

[spytheweb]

04:34 AM on 04/04/2012

"The DREAM Act --- a measure supported by 90% of U.S. Latinos" Why would real Latino Americans support a act that will flood our country with illegal alien foreigners? Are they really Americans?

"not all Hispanic voters support amnesty. Of Hispanic voters, 37% of Hispanics supported deporting illegal immigrants rather than fining them and than giving them a pathway to citizenship."

http://super-economy.blogspot.com/2010/05/hispanic-voters-are-few-compared-to.html

[Klabb]

11:16 PM on 04/03/2012

Encourage chain immigration? When the focus of immigration changed from one of national origin to one of family reunification - the idea behind both theories was to exclude people based on race and ethnicity. As one could no longer have an immigration policy that favored certain nationalities over others, the plan of introducing family reunification as the main way to immigrate was in reality to continue the old quota system under a different name; the theory was the alike begets like - so no one feared the demographic make up of the country would change - while on the surface everyone, regardless of nationality, race, or ethnicity would have the same opertunity to immigrate, in reality, these policies aimed at bringing in the good old WASPS of the good old day.

Now, this guy comes out and warns about chain migration - which has pretty much been the only way to immigrate for the last half a century - what does he want, replace it with a system based on merit, language, education etc...immigration reform?

[spytheweb]

04:38 AM on 04/04/2012

Chain migration based on people who have permission to be here, people who were inspected and would benefit the country. Not people who want citizenship just for being here.

[smarterboy09]

11:07 PM on 04/03/2012

I still don't understand their party's strategy of insulting all women and Latino voters, but they seem intent on it and it's good for Democrats, so carry on Teapublicans!

[spytheweb]

04:39 AM on 04/04/2012

I'am a democrat and want illegal aliens deported yesterday.

[Dennis NJ]

09:45 AM on 04/04/2012

It would cost a fortune

[greeneyes51654m]

06:05 PM on 04/05/2012

Agreed.

[highercalling]

09:22 PM on 04/03/2012

Let me get this straight. Barack Obama wants comprehensive immigration reform, including the DREAM Act. Latino voters want comprehensive immigration reform, including the DREAM Act. Congressional Republicans have rejected all efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform, including the DREAM Act, and Rubio agrees with his party.

So Rubio's new message to Latinos is, in effect, "Vote for the candidate you disagree with, and reward the party that killed the agenda you support."

Is this some sort of delayed April Fool's joke? Does Rubio seriously believe Latino voters know literally nothing about the debate over immigration policy in Washington?

[spytheweb]

04:42 AM on 04/04/2012

Hispanic voters were 7.4% of the total vote in 2008, who cares who they vote for?

"Hispanics are less likely to vote than other groups, even if citizen. In the 2008 election, only 7.4% of voters were Hispanic."

http://super-economy.blogspot.com/2010/05/hispanic-voters-are-few-compared-to.html

[highercalling]

07:03 AM on 04/04/2012

No matter how you spin it, the number of Latinos who voted in November 2010 is of enormous importance to future election results. It is a relatively young population and represents the fastest growing minority in the nation.

All in all, Latinos are a formidable force in electoral politics now and for many years to come. Approximately 6.6 million Latinos voted in November 2010, and if they continue to vote en masse for the Democrats, then it is clear it will have a massive influence.

Despite your arrogant dismissal, the Pew Hispanic Center study found that as a share of the electorate, Latinos made up 6.9 percent of the 96 million voters in 2010, up from 5.8 percent of the 96.1 million voters four years earlier. It added that most of them voted for the Democratic Party.

According to the study among those voters were 600,000 Latinos who turned 18 each year between 2006 and 2010 as well as 1.4 million foreign-born adult Latinos who became U.S. citizens and therefore eligible to vote. Your ignorance is yours, but your party continues to ignore them at their own peril.

[Epilef2000]

08:45 PM on 04/03/2012

Its ironic that Cuban American Senator Rubio complains about illegal immigration, when Cubans have a free pass, with a wet-foot dry-foot policy--where as long as a Cuban touches American soil, then they have a free pass to become a US citizen--and this policy encourages more people to Cuba to come to the US---but Rubio is silent on this unfair treatment to immigrants around the world who "follow the laws" and wait in line.

[Ingrid L Marchus]

03:13 AM on 04/04/2012

thank u i say take away the cuban refugee act

[nasknit]

03:20 AM on 04/04/2012

People who escape Cuba, are fleeing a Communist dictatorship, no freedom of religion or speech, where dissidents are imprisoned or disappear. VS. People leaving a poverty stricken country, with little chance for advancement. Anyone else see the difference?

[Epilef2000]

05:56 PM on 04/04/2012

There are dictatorships in the entire Middle East to the exception of the few states in the Arab Springs; China is a dictatorship, and Africa. Will we give these people the right to become US citizens solely on the basis of stepping on America's soil?

The Cubans the luxury having living 70 miles from the coast of the United States, unlike the people under other dictatorships including the nearly 8,000 people or more recently killed by the dictator Assad in Syria. Your argument fails to recognize the reason there are millions of Mexicans undocumented immigrants is because of its proximity and in no way does it mean the people facing genocide in Africa (unlike Cuba) are more law-bidding, but rather, they are unable to cross the border into the US as easily.