Donald Trump's popularity has grown because Americans' attitudes on immigration have changed with the declining economy and more people care about the issue, Cuban-American activist Raul Mas Canosa tells
Newsmax TV.
"Twenty years ago, immigration wasn't even an issue in American politics because the American worker had a good job, he was making money, he was progressing," Canosa said during a panel discussion on "Battleground Florida: Fight for the Primary" Saturday, featuring former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and GOP activist Rodolfo Miliani.
"All that's disappeared and this economy uncertainty that we have nowadays is exactly what's driving Trump and what is our hope as Republicans."
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But still, Huckabee called Rubio "a remarkable person" who was significant in helping him understand the issues surrounding Cuba and who helped him understand why he's been disgusted with President Barack Obama, who has looked the other way as people are held as political prisoners.
Miliani, who supports Rubio, said he first met the senator in 1993,w hen he was a volunteer on a gubernatorial campaign on which he was working, and he thinks Rubio was unfairly treated over being involved in the failed Gang of Eight bill. He also said that he does not think Rubio's positions on open borders and amnesty should not be categorized, as he has his own opinions on the matter.
"I know that no one is going to be deporting 12 million people and so we have to figure out some way to assimilate the folks that are already here," said Miliani.
Huckabee commented that he does not think Trump will follow through with the demand to round up and deport some 12 million illegal immigrants, as the costs would be too high.
"I think we need to redefine the whole issue of immigration, not as to how many people are coming," said Huckabee. "We make it too much about the numbers of how many."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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