Florida senator, rising GOP star, and son of Cuban immigrants Marco Rubio endorsed Mitt Romney for president Thursday. The buzz has been less about the endorsement and more about Rubio’s vice presidential aspirations. The real question, though, is whether Rubio would actually help Romney with Latino voters. Let’s look at their records.
Romney has vowed to veto the DREAM Act, which would allow some undocumented immigrant children to earn citizenship if they join the military or attend college. Romney has called the legislation a “subsidy” and “magnet” that would encourage more “illegal immigration.”
Rubio seems to want to play both sides of this issue. He says he is working on a bill that would give legal status to unauthorized immigrants who serve in the military or attend college. But here’s the catch – it wouldn’t allow them to become citizens. According to Rubio, “You can legalize someone’s status without placing them on a path toward citizenship.”
Translation: It’s OK to stigmatize immigrant children and create a permanent class of non-voting residents who don’t have access to fundamental rights.
However, that viewpoint simply doesn't align with the U.S. Constitution. That’s something most voters understand and we need the candidates to understand as well.
ACLU Liberty Watch 2012 is the voice for the Constitution in the this year’s presidential election. Follow us on Twitter: @ACLULW, or 'Like' us on Facebook: Facebook.com/ACLULibertyWatch. Read more about the candidates and Humane Immigration Policies.
