Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan may fight each other for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, but for now, they’re cooperating on the topic of immigration.
The senator is working on several immigration bills with both Democrats and Republicans. That includes one with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to legalize migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, another with Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, to allow in more high-skilled immigrants, and Rubio’s own plan that would provide a path to a permanent legal status for some young illegal immigrants,
Politico reports.
House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan wrote a statement on Facebook Monday praising Rubio’s work.
"Senator Rubio is exactly right on the need to fix our broken immigration system," Ryan said. “I support the principles he’s outlined: modernization of our immigration laws; stronger security to curb illegal immigration; and respect for the rule of law in addressing the complex challenge of the undocumented population. Our future depends on an immigration system that works."
Rubio and Ryan have exchanged ideas on the subject, and Rubio told Politico that Ryan will represent an “indispensable player at the right time” on immigration. “We have a great working relationship, and I think he can be a key player in anything we do moving forward,” Rubio said.
Rubio discussed his ideas in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Monday, "I'm a big believer in family-based immigration," he said.
"But I don't think that in the 21st century we can continue to have an immigration system where only 6.5 percent of people who come here come here based on labor and skill. We have to move toward merit and skill-based immigration."
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