Florida's Senator Marco Rubio embraced Arizona's harsh anti-immigrant law via SB 1070 and he has not retracted his support for 1070 since then. Indeed many Mexican-Americans view Rubio (Cuban-American) as a person who kicked us while we were down and out. He had the opportunity to support the DREAM Act in 2010 -- but chose to make things worse for us. Now he wants to take a lead on immigration reform, without consulting states who share a border with Mexico?
Indeed Texas shares 64% of their border with Mexico, and one would think if Rubio truly wanted to fix the immigration problem - he would consult Texas officials since they understand moreso than any other state the problems and solutions associated with the border.
Fact of the matter is, many forget that Mexican-Americans make up almost 70% of the population pie while the Cuban Americans only make up 3% of the population pie. Cubans receive privileged amnesty and it has been the Mexicans who have been getting deported by the thousands (and more than any other "Latin" group) -- so naturally, we are going to trust one of our own via Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro who is a Mexican-American over the one (Rubio) who supported harsh immigration laws to begin with. Castro has always supported fair legal immigration and has not wavered to that regard because he has personally witnessed how it hurts the Chicano community. See how that works?
Senator Marco Rubio failed to heed his own mother’s advice in a recent State of the Union Address Response to the President. He had a wonderful opportunity to recapture the 1950’s Republican Party who used to embrace Mexican-Americans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans who fought hard for their vote and their loyalty, when the Democrats – especially the Dixiecrats were demonizing all persons of color.
It is highly unfortunate that Rubio did not listen to the wise advice of his own mother instructing to be welcoming to all people including immigrants with or without status and todos los pobrecitos. Rubio did not advocate for the same treatment his own family members received when they arrived as immigrants to the United States. Under the Cuban Adjustment Act, his family members received amnesty.
That said, I think it's time for a poll. Do you think a Texas official who shares 64% of the border with Mexico ought to be consulted with regard to comprehensive immigration reform? Or do you think a Florida official who shares 0% of the border length ought to be consulted moreso?
Again, the community that has been most affected are those of Mexican descent -- not the Cuban-Americans, the majority of the deportations have been those from Mexico. It's time to listen to the community who has been most affected.
My vote is to look more at what Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro has to say with regard to fair and reasonable solutions on immigration.