Despite threatening to abandon the Gang of Eight’s immigration bill because of an amendment that would help same-sex couples, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) acknowledged Thursday that the nation has reached a critical point in its debate over immigration reform.
Rubio told those in attendance at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s “Road to Majority” luncheon in Washington, D.C., that the freedoms of the nation are what makes America so appealing to people in other countries.
“If America is so bad, then why are people trying to get in but no one seems to be getting out?” he asked.
The Florida senator also stressed how compassionate the American people are when it comes to immigration policy.
“There is no people in human history that has been more compassionate,” he told the crowd.
“At the essence of our immigration policy is compassion – is the idea that not only do we believe that people from all walks of life can succeed if given the opportunity, we actually want that – we want the U.S. to be a place where they can succeed,” he added.
Earlier Thursday morning Rubio announced on the “Andrea Tantaros Show” that he would drop out of the Gang of Eight if Sen. Patrick Leahy’s (D-Vt.) amendment giving the partners of illegal immigrants amnesty made it into the final bill.
“If this bill has in it something that gives gay couples immigration rights and so forth, it kills the bill,” Rubio said on the show. “I’m gone, I’m off it, and I’ve said that repeatedly.”
The Senate also voted Thursday to allow illegal immigrants to obtain legal status before the U.S.-Mexican border is fully deemed secure, 57-43. Rubio was among the five Republicans to break party ranks and vote with the Democrats in favor of allowing illegal immigrants to obtain legal status.
