GOP Presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio has been all over the place when it comes to illegal immigration.
His latest position came during an interview with a local TV station in New Hampshire.
“I do,” Rubio said, when asked if he supports a path to citizenship for those currently in the United States illegally. First, though, Rubio said lawmakers have to “prove to the American people that illegal immigration is under control,” implement an e-verify system, and modernize our legal immigration system. “After we’ve done those two steps, I believe the American people will be very generous but responsible about what you do with those that have been here a long time,” Rubio said.
Rubio was an original “Gang of Eight” member in the Senate pushing for so-called comprehensive immigration reform which would have included amnesty.
Later, he’s shifted away from the comprehensive approach and moved toward a piecemeal approach. But his position on amnesty has been all over the place:
On the path to citizenship in particular, he has at times come across as deliberately vague. Back in April, when he was asked about the Obama administration’s DACA policy, which exempts those who entered the U.S. illegally under the age of 16 from deportation, he said, “I’ve always said that eventually that will not be the permanent policy of the United States. It will have to come to an end at some point. And I hope it comes to an end because we’ve improved our immigration laws, we’ve improved the way we enforce our immigration laws, so that future illegal immigration is under control and third, that we’ve been able to accommodate those people who have been in the country for a long period of time, especially young people.”
