Rubio slams Biden over Venezuela, immigration in campaign stop with supporters in Miami
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio on Friday slammed President Joe Biden’s talks with government officials of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, called his reelection opponent a candidate “handpicked” by Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and said the odds of passing immigration reform are “impossible” under the Biden administration.
“It is impossible — and I say it with all sincerity — it is impossible to do absolutely anything about immigration while this emergency we have right now continues to exist,” Rubio said during a campaign event with supporters at a Doral restaurant.
He cited the expected uptick in migrants showing up at the Southern U.S. border following the Biden administration’s latest move to end Title 42, a Trump-era COVID policy that allowed federal authorities to swiftly deport migrants.
“We’re talking about the fact that in a week, we’re going to have more people than those who came through the Mariel [boatlift],” he said.
Rubio spoke to Venezuelan supporters as he campaigns for reelection against U.S. Rep. Val Demings, an Orlando Democrat. He never mentioned her directly by name, but referenced Demings to say that, if she were elected to the Senate, her first vote would be to “vote for Schumer” to be the Senate leader. He also accused Demings of only speaking about Venezuela after announcing her run for the Senate.
Christian Slater, communications director for Demings’ campaign, responded to the criticism by countering that Rubio “refuses to allow Venezuelans fleeing Maduro’s regime to build a stable life in the U.S.”
“Marco Rubio is just another weak politician launching desperate attacks because he turned his back on the Venezuelan community, putting his political bosses ahead of doing what’s right for Floridians,” the statement read.
Rubio focused much of his appearance at Il Forno Ristorante on attacking the Biden administration’s policies toward Latin America. He singled out National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and the National Security Council’s senior director for the Western Hemisphere, Juan González, whom he accused of pursuing engagement with socialist regimes.
“They’re sympathizers of opening relations with Cuba, Venezuela, and if they’re allowed, with Nicaragua, too,” Rubio said. “And this doesn’t end with Venezuela. They are focused now on Colombia. Their dream is that Colombia changes now, too. That Colombia also switches.”
This week, Democrats slammed Rubio over his opposition to a path to citizenship for Venezuelans in the U.S., who were granted Temporary Protected Status by President Biden last year. During a call on Thursday, some leaders of the Venezuelan community said they resented Rubio’s rhetoric on Venezuela because he hasn’t openly supported immigration reform. Earlier this week, Rubio signed a letter with U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, urging Biden to extend TPS benefits for Venezuelans, which include permission to live and work in the U.S. without the threat of deportation.
“We are not buying it, we are not going to be props again in his political game,” said Ade Ferro, executive director of the Venezuelan American Caucus, a Florida-based political group that advocates for Venezuelans to become more involved in the civic process.
William Diaz, founder of Casa de Venezuela in Orlando and a former supporter of Sen. Rick Scott, said he was disillusioned by Rubio when it came to causes that would help his community.
“I would like to ask Mr. Rubio why he did not support HR6,” said Diaz, referring to the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021, which has stalled in the Senate. “We’re not going to keep playing the game that he’s been playing with the Cuban community in South Florida. ... The same things we are asking for people is the same things that your family benefited from.”
Asked about the criticism, Rubio dismissed it as bad-faith partisan attacks.
“These are Democrat groups that are more Democrats than they are Venezuelan, that have been Democrats before and they will continue being Democrats after ... and they want to turn the topic of Venezuela into an immigration issue,” he said.
He said that while he supports TPS for Venezuelans, he did not want to incentivize illegal migration by extending eligibility to Venezuelans who have arrived after the March 8, 2021, cutoff date. Asked if he would support an immigration reform bill like the one filed by U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, the DIGNITY Act, Rubio said he hasn’t read it.
“I think everything is possible, especially if — God forbid — Venezuela becomes what Cuba has been for more than 60 years,” he said.
This story was originally published April 8, 2022 at 5:08 PM.
