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Breaking the gridlock on immigration reform

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    Florida Senator Marco Rubio working on alternative to Democrat-backed DREAM Act

  • Duration 7:24
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Welcome to The Journal Editorial Report -- -- if you go well as campaign season heats up hope for bipartisan compromise on pretty much anything goes out the window but Republican senator Marco Rubio.

Wants to break the gridlock and one of the most divisive issues in Washington.

Immigration reform the Florida freshman is working on an alternative to the democratic backed DREAM Act.

And I asked -- earlier what kind of progress he's making on Capitol Hill.

First things recognize as we do have an illegal immigration problem and people -- rightfully frustrated by it and that's why support security and enforcement.

He verifying things of that nature.

On the other hand we do have some people in this country that are burning position and -- -- the first up on trying to make.

Is to deal with children basically that were brought here at a very young age through no fault of their own find themselves here undocumented this is a compromise on the so called dream right which is designed to help kids who through no fault of their own find themselves in these circumstances that there and in.

All I'm trying to do is help these kids do right with their parents did wrong so if they if they serve in the military or -- Go to college they would be put on a path to citizenship with the way we're envisioning it is if you graduate from high school and obviously there's a military component to it but that's not very controversial but.

The part I think while the most debate is if you graduate from high school and -- haven't committed any felonies and you've been here for certain period of time and -- before a certain age.

We will give you a non immigrant visa and or that basically allows you to stay in this country legally -- -- you can green card.

That won't know it's not a green card it's a non immigrant visa which is what we give like a student visa and it allows you stay in the United States and complete your studies.

After some period of time in the future after you've been here we're we're still debating how long that should be.

At that point you would be like any other non immigrant visa holder in the country you would be allowed if you want to to apply for a green card but you have to do it -- the existing system.

Not -- some special path because that's the complaint about -- but how bad that I wanna ask you -- the amnesty because what would be your response to those who say look anybody who is illegally here who doesn't first have to return to their country of origin can wait in line like everybody else is being given.

A form of amnesty if they're allowed to stay here and get on a path to citizenship what I think there's a difference that we've long recognized in this country for example in the case of refugees between the people who have chosen to break the law and be here illegally and those who we -- brought here by their parents or by circumstances.

These kids -- -- when you're twelve years old when -- eight years old you don't choose to come to this country illegally many of these kids don't even know they're undocumented until they graduate try to go to college.

And no one's ever told them that.

So obviously this doesn't apply to people who as adults came to this country or older teenagers came to this country would have to be minors when they do have to be miners on the inner they would have to have lived -- consecutively for a significant period of time.

Invested in our society graduate from their high schools not have any criminal record.

And then all you get as a non immigrant -- -- that eventually in the future at some point.

You would be allowed to apply for a green card but you have to apply through the existing normal process not a special pathway.

I know this is going a fair ways at least in my estimation to what the White House has -- for with a -- acting at -- resisting.

Your compromise I think they've actually stated at least a senior -- has that they don't like -- -- doing why.

Well I think there's some politics involved no -- to the shock of many who made you want to consider that they -- used to DREAM Act -- I think there's something Madonna wanna say all -- there are people on the democratic part of I think legitimately want help these kids.

There are some that were counting on this issue to use on the campaign.

And to use against Mitt Romney in the Republican Party and I don't -- that I don't think there want they want -- to be reasonable Republican alternative because it takes away that argument.

But I think we have plenty of other issues to debate I think this is one that we should take off the table.

And try to soften and I hope certainly in the last few days I've heard more promising -- from many of my democratic colleagues and a willingness to work together to find a solution for the kids.

That's a change subjects of foreign policy you're on -- Senate Intelligence Committee.

Do you do we know have you been told at all on the committee that.

Who leaked.

The news what it was Pakistan -- American about that the doctor Pakistan doctor.

Who afridi who helped us capture that a lot.

No but I think it's concerning this is not a person who have done anything against the interest of -- on this is someone who was.

You know basically hoping to capture criminals and I don't want someone who had done great harm -- pakistanis or been involved in the death of Pakistan's I think that that.

Capture -- and -- now ultimately the death of bin Laden was beneficial not just for the United States but for Pakistan in the world and I don't think he's done anything wrong I think it's very troubling.

What's happening to him but was -- them into US intelligence or policy mistake not to get him out of there once so we knew that they will be looking -- Some of these issues will always be discussed with intelligence community I'm always cautious about speaking about those things because I don't ever want to be the source.

A something that on undermines future operations suffice it to say that at least for now I'm satisfied that the US is not to blame for what's happened and I I think now that the world knows about it.

That the pressure should be brought on Pakistan to treat this -- fairly he has not committed any crimes -- treason against Pakistani did not act against the national national interest of Pakistan.

He should be -- why would any.

-- -- any average citizen much less somebody who's taking the risk of life and -- in a country like Pakistan or anywhere else in the world help us again.

If this is what happens to somebody who does help well we didn't get him out of that country in time I think that's right I think that's the concern about future operations.

Is that this could serve as an example to others are cooperating with the United States could lead to very about outcome -- for you and for your family we depend on these sorts of relationships all over the world.

Tonight just gather intelligence but to conduct operations to those concerned about the implications -- -- despite how willing to criticize the administration that seems for for not getting.

Not yet I think that's well because we certainly to see how it plays out and I think they've taken a forceful position.

In terms of their position vis -- -- -- -- but there are other issues at play here that would probably couldn't publicly discuss that make the issue a little more complicated than is publicly known but.

Let me just say that I'm not prepared to make those criticisms getting the important thing now.

It's not to play politics of this issue.

But to get the gentleman outside of the predicament that he -- -- because he has done nothing wrong reason B.

The government of the sovereignty of Pakistan are let's talk briefly about Syria they have you know -- had the massacre -- on the weekend bush do you agree with John McCain your costs and a colleague that the US should consider the use of force on the no fly -- Well I I agree that we should take more forceful position and we have already I'm not.

Prepared to engage the United States in the military operation there to let me say the fundamental problems Syria now is that the opposition whether it's the military or the political opposition.

Does not cohesive and unified.

-- -- the best thing the United States can -- working with our allies is to create the conditions so that the opposition.

To become more cohesive and more unified.

That means encouraging the Turks and our allies in the region to create a safe zone and their territory so that Free Syrian Army so that the political.

Leaders there that are opposing -- -- regime can begin to organize themselves and I think we can provide and resource decisions communications.

Food.

You know it humanitarian support I think our allies are prepared to arm but not military -- I think our allies are prepared to do that and we should encourage them to do that I don't think that necessarily.

US aid and a military form directly.

To a non cohesive force were prepared to do that right now step number one for us should be to help the opposition unified coalesce and become more cohesive and our operations.

And we can do that to -- it Turkish side of the border free zone safe zone combined with the kind of communications and logistical support that we can provide.

And then once you have a cohesive opposition.

But I think they'll be more options on the table available to us -- -- -- review thanks so much thank you.

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