Two prominent Florida Republicans, both of whom have been mentioned as potential presidential candidates in 2016, showed signs of splitting on immigration reform on Thursday.
Both former Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., have been champions of immigration reform. Bush has generally been supportive of Rubio and other members of the Gang of 8 who are working for immigration reform in Washington.
But with increasing reports that the final immigration reform bill will feature more border security features, Bush expressed some disappointment on Thursday.
Bush posted a link to a Wall Street Journal article on Thursday on The Border Security Ruse. Bush, who had been one of the leading Republicans to oppose the Arizona immigration law, insisted, We need a pro-growth, humane fix of our broken immigration system.
Rubio appeared on Fox News Americas News Room on Thursday where he talked with Martha MacCallum about amendments adding more border security to the immigration reform bill.
Its a dramatic improvement in border security, Rubio said. "Its a major surge in border enforcement, and I think its important to explain why thats necessary. Look, as I said before, Americas a special country, so special that people are willing to come here no matter what. Even some people are willing to risk their lives and do it illegally. And were compassionate about that, but were also a sovereign country. We have a right to protect our borders, every sovereign country does, and thats why this is so critical. As long as we have this crisis on the southern border, its going to require a surge of resources like the one that this amendment outlines. Ive been saying that for weeks, that the entire effort of immigration reform hinges on whether or not we get the border security parts of the bill right. And if you look at whats being proposed here, this is a dramatic expansion and improvement in border security that I hope will allow, finally, for this legislation to have the support it needs.
After talking with Rubio about the fire he is getting from the right, MacCallum followed up by asking about the tweet Bush sent out and criticisms from other Republicans who think the immigration reform bill goes too far with border security.
I want to get your thoughts, though, on folks in your own party who say that this is too much, that the things have to happen simultaneously, MacCallum said. Heres Jeb Bush in a tweet that he put out earlier today. He says, The Border Security Ruse. We need a pro-growth, humane fix for our broken immigration system. Weve also heard similar things from Lindsey Graham, that these have to start now for Republicans to benefit from them, you know, with voters who feel very strongly about it. They say its got to start simultaneously.
Well, first of all, I dont think this is about helping the Republican Party, Rubio replied. I think this is about helping the United States of America. Im not doing this for politics, and I think those who are arguing we should do it for politics are wrong about that. Our duty here is to the Constitution of the United States and to the people of this country. And one of our primary duties is the sovereignty of this nation. Every country enforces their border, every country on the planet that I know tries or does secure their border. Why should the United States not be allowed to do the same? Why are we different? Why are we expected not to secure our border? I dont think thats fair.
The gates arent open, Rubio continued. On the contrary, were reforming our legal immigration system so that it works better. Were going to have a way of knowing people who are here illegally now by overstaying their visas with the entry-exit tracking system. People that are illegally here are not going to be able to find jobs. And those who are illegally here, were going to know who they are, theyre going to be background checked, theyre going to pay a fine, and theyre going to start paying taxes. Many of them for the first time in their lives. So, its not an open ended question. Well have the kind of border security measures that have never really been in place in the past.
The national media is reporting on how conservatives are firing away at Rubio on immigration reform but Bush is clearly on the senators left on immigration. While the two Florida Republicans have been close allies in the past, theyre going different ways on this issue -- which could resurface if they are rivals come 2016.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at 904-521-3722.
