Posted on 10/23/2015 9:01:18 AM PDT by Isara
Sen. Marco Rubio is backing a push to increase penalties for undocumented immigrants who reenter the country after previously being deported.
The Florida Republican signed onto legislation from fellow 2016 White House hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Thursday, according to the Congressional Record.
Under Cruz's legislation, undocumented immigrants face additional prison time if they reenter the country after being deported, including a minimum five-year sentence if they were previously convicted of an aggravated felony or of illegally reentering the country twice.
The Texas Republican is expected to come to the Senate floor next week to try to pass the legislation which is referred to as Kate's Law after Kathryn Steinle, who was shot and killed in San Francisco allegedly by an illegal immigrant who had already been deported five times.
Cruz will need to get the consent of every senator to be successful. In addition to Rubio, Sens. David Perdue (R-Ga.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and David Vitter (R-La.) have backed Cruz's legislation.
Democrats, however, blocked a bill from Vitter Tuesday that included similar language as part of a broader bill crackdown on cities that don't comply with federal immigration law.
Rubio called the vote "outrageous."
"No one involved in this debate understands this issue better than I do," Rubio told Newsmax TV's "The Hard Line." "I understand immigration, the good, the bad and the ugly, but this part is not good this part about people who are openly violating our laws."
Rubio has received skepticism from conservatives over his role in a 2013 immigration reform proposal, which he has since distanced himself from.
Trump, and maybe Rubio if not Cruz as VP works just fine. Why? Rubio's a good learner. I suspect that as understudy to Trump his attitude would become more mainstream traditional American.
I would love to see her as Energy Secretary or
the head of a greatly reduced EPA.
I think she would have made a great president after
having been VP but that’s just me.
Nothing really new here. This has been in the works before Cruz came to the Senate...but glad its coming to the font now. The hate Rubio/Catholics/Hispanic crowd will have to twist this somehow.
He supports it because he knows if he becomes pres NOBODY will be deported EVER, so there won’t be anyone who gets deported and then returns.
Yeah, and Obama didn’t believe in “gay marriage” either...
I wouldn’t care if they were hispanic in origin as
long as they follow the Constitution and perhaps
push English as the official language, it is the
flux in the melting pot of our republic, something
that the democrat refuses to add.
America, a common language
an uncommon idea.
Rubio -too little, too late!
And how many will fall for this flip, or is a flop, on this pronouncement from Rubio on an immigration issue? Zero credibility.
wall + jail_time = a_good_thing.
Not really. The object is that they *not be here* to suck off the taxpayer teet. Housing them at our expense doesn’t accomplish that goal.
I mean really what is the incentive to come to America legally? You have to wait, sometimes years, you used to have to have a sponsor and swear not to accept any financial aid from the government for five years and it costs you money. Sneak across the border and the government gives you taxpayer money and you get to steal more every year from the taxpayers through the IRS!
Jail time is a deterrence.
When a guy breaks into your house, you don't just release them without punishing them.
They'll only come back.
Rubberio trying to show us how flexible he is
I doubt this will get Rubio the reputation points he’s seeking. He’s lost the trust of the base. I’m firmly in the camp that sees Rubio as part of the Bush strategy, but this will have little positive effect for either one. Besides it’s a throw-away vote for Rubio. There’s no way McConnell’s senate will pass it or Barry sign it.
You post as if I said that jail time is better than building a wall.
What part of ..."wall + jail_time = good" don't you understand?
I don't see how I could make it more simple for you.
I got what you’re saying.
It doesn’t change the fact that creating a situation where we don’t need the “jail” part of the equation is better than diddling along with “wall + jail” because we didn’t do the “wall” part right.
The fact is that building a wall alone doesn't solve the problem. 40% of all illegals entered the country legally.
So you need to use all the tools available. A wall. Jail time. Strict workplace enforcement.
You need the whole enchilada.
(A little spanish lingo)
Rubio is a wuss!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.