https://youtube.com/watch?v=iax6bqVBFxU
Senator Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) continued to hint at making a presidential announcement in the coming weeks when he stopped by The Five on Monday, and addressed the issue that some think may be his biggest hurdle in a Republican primary: Immigration. Co-host Greg Gutfeld asked Rubio, who was a member of the moderate Gang of Eight that devised comprehensive immigration reform legislation in the Senate, how he responds to criticism that he is “soft” on the issue.
“I think I’m realistic on immigration,” he said. He noted that the current immigration system is still in need of reforms, but was careful to emphasize that grand approaches, such as the Gang of Eight bill or the president’s recent executive action, are not the answer.
Only when the border is secure and people feel that future illegal immigration is “under control” will Americans be willing to look at the issue of people currently in the country illegally, Rubio said.
“If that happens, I think the people are willing to be very reasonable about what we do with those who are here now, that have been here for a long time, and have not otherwise violated our laws,” Rubio said. “Until you can show them — not tell them — until you can show them that you are going to bring future illegal immigration under control, I think it’s impossible to move forward on anything else on immigration.”
“That’s just a fact given what’s happened over the last couple of years,” he added.
— Andrew Johnson is an editorial associate at National Review Online.