Marco Rubio To Meet With Latino Democrats On Dream Act

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks about foreign policy April 25 at the Brookings Institution.

WASHINGTON -- In a sign that Democrats may consider getting on board with Sen. Marco Rubio's Dream Act-style legislation, three leading Latino members of Congress plan to meet with Rubio Wednesday afternoon.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Reps. Charles Gonzalez (D-Texas) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) will meet with Rubio (R-Fla.) around 3 p.m. to hear more about his plan, a senior Democratic aide told HuffPost. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the members of Congress had agreed not to publicize the meeting.

Under discussion will be Rubio's "Dream Act," a term appropriated from a long-standing bill supported by Democrats. Both bills would be aimed at undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children, and would allow some to stay if they kept a clean criminal record and joined the military or attended college.

Menendez, Gonzalez and Gutierrez all support the Dream Act that passed the House in 2010 but was defeated in the Senate 55-41, with three Republicans supporting and five Democrats defecting to vote against the measure.

But that bill, which was initially introduced more than a decade ago with bipartisan support, has become politicized as "amnesty" because it would allow some undocumented young people to receive green cards and possibly citizenship if they completed government requirements. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, whom Rubio endorsed, said in December that he would veto that Dream Act. Romney said Monday that Rubio's bill has "many features to commend it," but that he will need to see more details before giving full support.

Rubio's framework -- he has not yet introduced a bill -- would not provide a path to permanent residency or eventual citizenship, which immigrant rights groups said would undercut the purpose of the Democrat-supported Dream Act.

Of course, holding a meeting doesn't necessarily mean the members of Congress would sign on to Rubio's bill.

Grijalva told MSNBC last week that Rubio's plan would create a "second class" because it would allow some undocumented immigrants to stay, but with few options for ever becoming citizens.

Earlier on Wednesday, Gutierrez did not comment on whether there would be a meeting but told HuffPost he had two questions about the Rubio legislation: whether it would stop deportation of those young people and whether it could pass.

"Most importantly, does he have 10 Republican senators?" Gutierrez said. "We know we got 55 the last time, do you have another 10?"

UPDATE: 7:15 p.m. - Gutierrez said in an email that he left the meeting "feeling optimistic" that Rubio and Democrats will continue to talk, adding that details of the senator's plan are fluid.

"Look, I want to halt the deportation of immigrant families and youth with deep roots in the U.S. and I at least want to talk to people who have a similar goal," he wrote. "The big question that remains unanswered is how Senator Rubio's proposal helps build support among Republicans in the House who oppose immigration reform."

A spokesman for Rubio declined to comment, calling it a "private meeting."

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[Karen1]

07:45 PM on 04/28/2012

Last night I watched Who Do You Think You Are, a show about celebrities tracing their ancestry. Rob Lowe found out that one of his ancestors was a German Hessian who fought against George Washington.Yes, AGAINST George Washington. But Hessians were allowed to stay afetr the war and become citizens. The DAR and the SAR even accepted Rob Lowe as a member based on his Hessian ancestor who fought against our country. See how "history" works? What BS.

We also gave citizenship to southerners who fought to destroy our country in the Civil War.

But sdomebody who has lived and worked here peacefully cannot stay because they have brown skin.

[renner1234]

03:52 PM on 04/26/2012

Maybe Obama should study how you get together and work on an issue.

[l78lancer]

03:34 PM on 04/26/2012

"Rubio's framework -- he has not yet introduced a bill -- would not provide a path to permanent residency or eventual citizenship, which immigrant rights groups said would undercut the purpose of the Democrat-supported Dream Act."
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Rubio's Dream Act forgot the part about the dream. It is a non-starter and a political stunt strictly for the purpose of attracting votes for Romney.

[Karen1]

08:03 PM on 04/28/2012

Both parties use the Dream Act as a stunt.

[l78lancer]

04:26 AM on 04/29/2012

And who would that be on the left?

[Joseph Gary Hunt]

12:53 PM on 05/06/2012

Rubio's Dream Act proves he is a RINO that needs to be recalled........ALL illegals should be deported...........

[ggs83]

02:47 PM on 04/26/2012

Another set up
when will dems learn that no current Republican is to be trusted
remember the GOPpledge--party before country
it is just about winning the Senate
expect these senators to know better

[raydelv]

02:13 PM on 04/26/2012

You know, I like Marco Rubio, he is very smart, but to pick him for VP I think Romeny would be making a mistake. Romney has a history, while Rubio is still young has not run a big business or government. Obama was critized for the same thing, very smart but no business history or real government history. I know Rubio if chosen would be VP but in the event the President can not do his job the VP would step in.

[KMoore4318]

01:51 PM on 04/26/2012

illegal immigration has gone on throughout history, There have been borders ever since God kicked Adam out of the Garden, well before the Israelites refused to enter the promised land, because it contained giants, and were forced to wonder in the wilderness for a generation; It will continue until the anti-Christ enacts revelation 13:17. You can control immigration when you control what men can buy and sell, and you have a mark on his head or Arm for identification. Congres is mixed about a national ID, THE DMV in Georgia is already set up for it, when it passes they will turn it on. If imagration is a Crisis; we all know "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yeA_kHHLow

[pllc]

01:50 PM on 04/26/2012

More than half of the U.S. was the territory including Rubio's Florida, governed from Mexico City by the conquerors from Hispania. We share a common bond in history with the Latinos from this inescapable legacy that had its share of problems over the years between two distinct cultures that inhabited these lands that became part of our country. The immigration problem is an extension of that legacy that will continue for generations to come hopefully evolving into a more positive and constructive way than it has been up until now. Rubio and his colleagues I trust can beging bridging that gap between our two cultures.

[pjvoperamom]

01:05 PM on 04/26/2012

Why a private meeting that we are not supposed to know about? He is already acting like a true Republican VP. Hiding things...I also must say the ones he is meeting with are all Latin. We need some diversity in that meeting please.

[cnsmdjrf]

03:41 PM on 04/26/2012

I hear Vladimir Ahkmed Chung Pattel is also attending with an unnamed representative of Area 51. They want to addres not just the South of the border but East West and outer space illegal Alien problems as well. Marco Rubio is going to make a great VP isn't he!

[pjvoperamom]

04:13 PM on 04/26/2012

Very Funny!!!!

[mystercarlyle]

12:40 PM on 04/26/2012

A Dream Act that doesn't provide a path to permanent citizenship is simply a nighmare in disguise.

[Take it back]

12:24 PM on 04/26/2012

I'm sort of shocked by how many people just say things that they have substantiated as true. It happens on both sides of the aisle, I know, but it's really rather scary. Let's all agree to do our homework and make educated assessments. Don't fall for the politics of division. We ALL want things to get better and have to choose the course that best fits our constitution and vision for the future.

[KMoore4318]

02:00 PM on 04/26/2012

Not ALL of us want things to get better; some of us want to Divide and Conquer (Divide et impera)
Obama 2012 (really???)

[renner1234]

03:57 PM on 04/26/2012

Then why would you vote for Obama who is dividing this country.

Lets see his economic policies are destroying the country.

Middleclass is getting poorer and poorer.

Unemployment is still at 8.3% when he promised 6% by 1012.

He tries to introduce racism at every chance he gets.

He is dividing the country between the 99% and 1%.

He is demonizing everybody.

He will not compromise on anything.

He should be called the divider in chief.

By being on board with Obama it show exactly who you are.

[Tony Braciole]

12:18 PM on 04/26/2012

I don't think Latino voters are as naive as rural American voters, but you never know.

[jwosr98]

12:06 PM on 04/26/2012

I wish Menendez would worry about all of the people in New Jersey not just Hispanics

[pjvoperamom]

01:06 PM on 04/26/2012

Yes and we need to keep a close eye on that.

[sfclecrone]

01:45 PM on 04/26/2012

Half the people in NJ don't even know who Menedez is, but will vote for him because the D next to his name trumps all else in NJ. The only reason Christie beat Corzine was people in NJ were just tired of him, similar to when Florio got the boot. NJ always votes Democrat, and then complains that they are one of the highest taxed states in the United States. All we ever hear in the news is the Democrat controlled Assembly and State Senate wants to tax something else, or raise taxes, yet they keep winning elections. Menedez and his fellow democrats have never cared about New Jersey, it has always been about keeping the Democrat machine in the majority, no matter what. The few republicans in government are just happy to be collecting a check, they don't even push back at the Democrats, except during election years, and then weakly at that. NJ voters are their own enemies, they never learn.

[auditor0007]

11:56 AM on 04/26/2012

Here is a fact; we are not going to deport 12 million plus illegal Hispanics. It will never happen. The other fact is that Hispanics are already the largest ethnic group in the US, and there is a very good chance they will eventually outnumber whites. We know for a fact that minorities will definitely become the majority as a whole at some point. Knowing that, it is imperative that we teach, educate, and train these people for the future. If we do not, we will be left with an ever growing lower class with a much smaller middle class. This would not be good for anyone. It is time to look to the future with open eyes rather than closed minds.

[Karl1948]

12:05 PM on 04/26/2012

You were doing good until equating Hispanic with racial and ethnic groups. It is a language related group composed of many races, united simply by a common language at some time in the past or present. This misconception is very common and used to justify bad policies on a regular basis.

[pjvoperamom]

01:17 PM on 04/26/2012

We need to control letting them in. Why allow a mixture of races from other countries dominate this country? Too bad they already have changed the communications to their language. What upsets me is they are here taking advantage of our freedoms, picketing for the rights of the country they just left and will not go back to fight for their countries freedom. The people who fought for this countries freedom should be an example for them, and by the way, we decided on one language for this country and it should remain that way.

[thinkbeforeyouwrite]

03:31 PM on 04/26/2012

We decided on one language? Who is we? I'm a U.S. citizen born and raised. I love this country, but I don't recall a National vote on which language "we" ought to adopt. You shouldn't start a sentence with "we" as if you speak for the 300 million people that live in this country. It is annoying. I love being out in public and hearing different languages. It reminds me of what a great place we live in. I refuse any push for "one" language. It is an attempt to intellectually bankrupt our kids.

[traverse master]

06:23 PM on 04/26/2012

"Why allow a mixture of races from other countries dominate this country? "
little too insecure, maybe ?

[Karl1948]

11:55 AM on 04/26/2012

the solution is really very simple. Set a date (six months would be reasonable) for all illegals to complete registering for a permanent work permit. Issue the work permits within sixty days of registration with the provision that children born to holders will not be American citizens by birth unless one parent is a U.S. citizen. Holders of these permits will not be subject to deportation unless they met the same criteria used to deport resident aliens (green card holders). Effective immediately after ending the registration period, all unregistered illegals would be treated as follows: Prisoners of War as invaders if their home country accepts responsibility or as spies/terrorists if their home country refuses to accept responsibility. Individuals holding work permits will be allowed to apply for permanent resident status at the nearest Naturalization office at anytime, subject to current requirements. ------ This will make no one completely happy, but will resolve the current problems and make other countries accept responsibility for their citizens welfare.

[busterggi]

11:49 AM on 04/26/2012

If Rubio really wants the Dream Act to pass shuldn't he be meeting with his own party? They're the ones that oppose it.