Marco Rubio: We're Not Going to Rush This Immigration Deal

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said in an Easter morning statement that he won't be rushed to agree on immigration reform, in spite of the reports that the entire bipartisan group of eight senators are good to go with their legislative proposal.

Rubio headlines his statement, "No final agreement on immigration legislation yet."

Politico opines that the GOP's rising star was timing his words for consideration on Sunday talk shows.

Rubio's support is crucial if the Senates Gang of Eight is to have a deal. He spoke out a day after business and union groups signed off on a temporary-worker program that appeared to be the biggest remaining hurdle for Senate negotiators.

Here is Rubio's full Easter morning statement:

Im encouraged by reports of an agreement between business groups and unions on the issue of guest workers. However, reports that the bipartisan group of eight senators have agreed on a legislative proposal are premature.

We have made substantial progress, and I believe we will be able to agree on a legislative proposal that modernizes our legal immigration system, improves border security and enforcement and allows those here illegally to earn the chance to one day apply for permanent residency contingent upon certain triggers being met. However, that legislation will only be a starting point.

We will need a healthy public debate that includes committee hearings and the opportunity for other senators to improve our legislation with their own amendments. Eight senators from seven states have worked on this bill to serve as a starting point for discussion about fixing our broken immigration system. But arriving at a final product will require it to be properly submitted for the American peoples consideration, through the other 92 senators from 43 states that werent part of this initial drafting process. In order to succeed, this process cannot be rushed or done in secret.