Migrants transported to Martha’s Vineyard represent “a small percentage of the issue” border communities face, Rubio says
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. – Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, responded to the growing controversy regarding migrants in the United States, which was recently sparked by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to send fifty migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. Rubio stated that the few dozen people are nothing compared to what communities on the southern border face on a daily basis.
Rubio told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday that the policies put in place by the Biden administration had contributed to the “catastrophe” of immigration in the United States right now.
“This is what happens when you have an administration that basically tells people if you come into this country illegally, you’re going to get to stay,” Rubio said.
In response to a question on his governor’s decision to send fifty people to Martha’s Vineyard, Rubio said that he was unable to comment directly on what DeSantis did since he was not aware of the specifics of the situation. Still, he said that the problems that border states like Texas, Arizona, and Florida face are considerably more severe. He used Monroe County, Florida, as an example. He said that 100 people had arrived on Florida’s coasts in the past week.
“What was flown to Martha’s Vineyard is but a small, like minuscule fraction of the problem being faced and the burden being carried by just a handful of states,” he said. “A handful of border states and a handful of communities in those states are taking on 90% of the burden of uncontrolled illegal immigration.”
After that, he proceeded to criticize Democratically-led counties that are not located near the border but have said that they welcome immigration.
“It’s easy to be a sanctuary city or sanctuary county when illegal immigration is not burdening you,” Rubio said.
The senator also pointed out that the actions that states like Florida and Texas have taken to relocate migrants are not dissimilar to those taken by the federal government in this regard.
“DHS puts people on charters every day and flies them all over the country without notifying local officials,” he said.
Rubio, who is of Cuban origin, made it very clear that he does not hold the migrants themselves responsible for the situation.
“I always sympathize with people that are coming to this country. They’re desperate. Because of communism, because of poverty, because of violence. Of course. But the truth of the matter is every country in the world has to have immigration laws,” he said.
