The Wall Street Journal, 01/11/2013 –
“…Florida's junior senator and one of America's most prominent Hispanic politicians wants to take the Republican lead on immigration reform. Getting out front of President Obama's campaign pledge to overhaul the system in his second term, Mr. Rubio is laying out his ideas for possible legislation.
“…His wholesale fix tries to square…the liberal fringe that seeks broad amnesty for illegal immigrants and the hard right's obsession with closing the door. Mr. Rubio would ease the way for skilled engineers and seasonal farm workers while strengthening border enforcement and immigration laws. As for the undocumented migrants in America today…he proposes to let them ‘earn’ a working permit and, one day, citizenship.
“…Any overhaul, [Rubio] says, needs to ‘modernize’ legal immigration. ‘I'm a big believer in family-based immigration,’ he says. ‘But I don't think that in the 21st century we can continue to have an immigration system where only 6.5% of people who come here…based on labor and skill. We have to move toward merit and skill-based immigration.’
“He says the U.S. can either change the ratio of preferences for family-based immigration or raise the hard cap on people who bring investment or skills into the country. He prefers the latter, noting that the U.S. doesn't produce enough science, math and engineering graduates to fill the open posts in high-tech.
“…[Rubio would also] look to increase the number of visas for permanent or seasonal farm workers.
“…Mr. Rubio stands by workplace enforcement as an essential component of any immigration reform.
“…After two relatively quiet years in the Senate, Mr. Rubio is taking his first significant risk. Often mentioned in talk about a 2016 presidential run, he has decided to make immigration a signature issue.”
To read the full article, please click here.
“…Florida's junior senator and one of America's most prominent Hispanic politicians wants to take the Republican lead on immigration reform. Getting out front of President Obama's campaign pledge to overhaul the system in his second term, Mr. Rubio is laying out his ideas for possible legislation.
“…His wholesale fix tries to square…the liberal fringe that seeks broad amnesty for illegal immigrants and the hard right's obsession with closing the door. Mr. Rubio would ease the way for skilled engineers and seasonal farm workers while strengthening border enforcement and immigration laws. As for the undocumented migrants in America today…he proposes to let them ‘earn’ a working permit and, one day, citizenship.
“…Any overhaul, [Rubio] says, needs to ‘modernize’ legal immigration. ‘I'm a big believer in family-based immigration,’ he says. ‘But I don't think that in the 21st century we can continue to have an immigration system where only 6.5% of people who come here…based on labor and skill. We have to move toward merit and skill-based immigration.’
“He says the U.S. can either change the ratio of preferences for family-based immigration or raise the hard cap on people who bring investment or skills into the country. He prefers the latter, noting that the U.S. doesn't produce enough science, math and engineering graduates to fill the open posts in high-tech.
“…[Rubio would also] look to increase the number of visas for permanent or seasonal farm workers.
“…Mr. Rubio stands by workplace enforcement as an essential component of any immigration reform.
“…After two relatively quiet years in the Senate, Mr. Rubio is taking his first significant risk. Often mentioned in talk about a 2016 presidential run, he has decided to make immigration a signature issue.”
To read the full article, please click here.
