OPINION:
I have been a supporter of Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, as the next leader of the Republican Party and as a candidate for the next presidential election. Since he has come out in support of this new “comprehensive immigration-reform” bill, however, I have begun to have lots of doubts about Mr. Rubio. All we hear is he would “secure the border first” and then we will give illegals a path to citizenship. This is not the case.
I saw Mr. Rubio tell an audience that he would allow illegals to get citizenship first so they would pay a fine the federal government could then use to pay for border security. This does not make any sense. The No. 1 priority of the president and Congress should be national security and the protection of the American people. This primary function of the government has not been realized and will not be realized according to this immigration bill. There is plenty of federal money to secure our borders. I can provide a list of federal programs that can be cut instead (“Obamaphones,” for example) to free up this money.
Why do we have to give illegals a path to citizenship? Give them a green card to work and do not provide any federal, state or local benefits. Currently, illegal immigrants receive untold billions of dollars in benefits, and we give their children U.S. citizenship — and immediately many of them go on welfare. Why are there 60 Mexican consular affairs offices across the United States? Currently, we associate the “comprehensive immigration-reform bill” with Mr. Rubio, not President Obama, which is very dangerous as this bill is all about votes and provides amnesty, not security.
I could tell Mr. Rubio in five minutes how to secure our borders and in another five minutes how to restrict payments to illegals and how to restrict their access to our job markets.
Mr. Rubio has hurt himself and his political aspirations with this immigration bill — and unless he changes his approach and the details, he will not be a serious candidate on the national level.
CHUCK FLOYD
Potomac
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