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Sen. Marco Rubio helping to develop a separate pathway to citizenship for young people
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Or Republican congressman David Rivera is now introducing a version of the controversial immigration -- that's known as the DREAM Act.
Rivera's bill would give a select group of high achieving.
Illegal immigrants a chance to become US citizens.
He says that the -- designed to help students who likely had no say in their family's decision to come to America illegally.
-- talk about that house.
-- Republican senator Marco Rubio.
Here in America's -- his parents legally immigrated to the United States from Cuba senator welcome -- great to have you with us here this morning and medicine at some of the components of this bill.
Are that if you could stay in the country for five years if you came to the United States by the time you're sixteen have a high school diploma.
And have been admitted to a four year institution.
Are you okay what that's what.
I don't know the details of the bill we take a very different approach.
Well first of all that I don't.
The only solution for these kids up to now has been the so called DREAM Act and the DREAM Act does is not something I can support not many people don't support it because it would actually apply.
To people beyond just the -- so we're developing it but basically what we would do is it would take a very select group of young people who arrived before certain age.
Through no fault of their own upon themselves here without documents have lived here for an extended period of time consecutively.
Graduate high school and don't have a a criminal record.
And what you do for them as you would give running non immigrant visa which is basically like a student visa that allows them to go to school but doesn't get citizenship.
At some point in the future and that's one of the things that were debating.
They would have the right and they decide to and I think most of them will.
To apply for a green card but they'll have to do it like anybody else not -- a regular not to a special process but to the regular process so it's not like you don't never have access to a green card.
And ultimately citizenship but they'll have to do it like everybody else through the existing process.
And I think what that does is it provides us in on amnesty way to help young kids that were brought here through no fault of their own.
To do right what their parents did wrong.
Including a path to citizenship -- would have you at your bill which if you expect you -- will come out -- of the summer right.
Yeah but the path to citizenship and -- would provide is just the regular system not a special one.
And that's the difference between our approach and the DREAM Act the DREAM Act would create a separate pathway to citizenship.
-- basically says that after some point in time you have your non immigrant visa if you want to become a resident which is what you have to do before you become a citizen.
You'll have the right to do that but to have to do it just like anybody else that has a non immigrant visa we wouldn't create a special path for them.
And and I think that gets around the idea that somehow we would encourage people to do this again in the future.
It you know.
Mitt Romney governor Ronnie says that he is studying the bill that has been brought up he he stopped short -- of backing a GOP version.
Of the DREAM Act so called DREAM Act.
Is that email that good politics is that we're Haitians stand on this or would you like to see him come out more forcefully and say yes you know students like this one that's been outlined.
In this case -- -- came from Columbia she's about a -- -- -- class she's facing deportation and should Republicans be arguing that there should be a path for it for students like.
Well there's two things the governor Romney has said the first is that he supports legal immigration and wants to see reforms for the legal immigration system I think that's very exactly where our party -- what about kids like yes well and I think -- -- is that -- he wants to study the details on our bill hasn't been introduced it wouldn't be fair for me to ask him to take a position.
On a piece of legislation that has not yet been offered and there are questions about my.
So you know for a proposed legislation that haven't been answered yet even for me ask for a part we're trying to figure out how many people this would apply to what it -- -- -- cost them money.
And things of that nature so -- the answers to those questions and a lot of serious proposal and then we can ask him for his opinion.
He has not been doing well in the polls among Hispanic voters I think we of the public and take a look at right now.
27%.
That is not a number that historically can elect -- president.
I what do you think about.
-- number's gonna change -- -- hires people learn the differences between President Obama and governor Romney on the economy.
The number one issue and Hispanic community is the economy and in particular economic empowerment the ability to work hard.
And leave your kids better off than yourself an argument is a very strong we are supporters of the American free enterprise system which makes it.
Easier for people to do that and that the Democrats and the president are undermining the free enterprise system.
And so we've got a consistently make that argument and is that argument is made.
And those differences are told that number's going to change ultimately the Republican Party has to commit to that in the long term not just for the selection but I think this election is important beginning.
How how useful can you be in helping him to raise that number and a lot of people you know I mean asking the VP question -- -- -- -- what you're filing process.
You know said clearly.
How helpful can you be raising that number.
-- it's not just me I think the Republican Party needs to continue to lay out the argument and that compelling one that we are the party of free enterprise that we are the party of economic empowerment.
So I'd love to be a part of it but I think all of us are gonna have to do that including the nominee -- Mitt Romney.
I -- about Syria in the short time that we have left.
Mitt Romney has said that he thinks that we should arm the opposition.
Do you agree with that.
Well the first thing we have to do with how the opposition get organized right now that's the -- -- the most eligible.
Well you -- two things he would encourage our allies like Turkey to create a safe haven for them where they can operate from.
And then you -- we can provide communication equipment food medicine the kind of logistical support that they could use to get politically and militarily organized.
And once -- organized and -- created for themselves a cohesive operating unit.
Then I think we should encourage many of our allies who are willing to -- on the two parties the Turks -- setter who are prepared to arm these folks we don't even have to do with it -- there's.
Notices some of those arms -- -- -- the wrong hands chairman and India are kayak has bought and a lot.
I eat it is some heavy -- a -- -- Mitt Romney to stay with this topic and it's too complicated to start saying yes we should on the opposition do you do great.
Well I think again it starts with getting their opposition to get organized if they're not organized that's what creates the kind of chaos that al-Qaeda and Islamic radicals to take advantage of and by the way if we're not engaged and have -- of those of us who -- who do not support Islamic radicals are not engaged that creates the kind of -- territory for these folks to come and take advantage of the chaos that's happening so it all starts to help in the opposition get organized.
Once they get organized and are cohesive -- our allies to be more successful and arming them so not only can they can defend themselves but they -- overthrow the aside version.
About -- Karl Rove has said -- on the question of of the vice presidential issue before relayed out and says her strong philosophical conservative.
With the ability to communicate that message in a way.
That attracts across the political spectrum which is of course something anybody would be looking when a vice presidential candidate but at the bottom and that he says but young.
That problem for you.
I'm not well I'm not talking about the vice presidential process -- -- can tell you about age however as I get older -- only got off at.
Senator -- thanks so much --
