Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, the Illinois Democrat who has been a leading force in Congress in support of the DREAM Act, told Fox News Latino that he would support a pared-down GOP version --opposed by many in his party-- if it will keep undocumented youth from being deported.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Latino special contributor Juan Williams, the congressman said he would work with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s proposal for legislation that would halt the deportation of undocumented immigrants who were brought as minors if they attend college or serve in the military.
But the most criticized part of the Florida Republican’s proposal, which he is still drafting and has not described in detail, is that it would give those who qualify a visa, but not a direct path to a green card or citizenship.
“If he’s got a proposal, I will work with Rubio, I’m telling you that,” said Gutiérrez, who heads the immigration task force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. "I think he's sincere, I think he's genuine."
Williams pressed Gutiérrez about if he would support the measure even though it explicitly does not grant legal permanent residency, known commonly as the “green card.” Many critics of Rubio’s proposal say denying permanent residency would make them second-class citizens --thus punishing people, the critics say, who were brought illegally into the United States through no fault of their own.
Gutiérrez said he believes they should have a path to citizenship – an aspect of the existing Democrat-driven DREAM Act that many Republicans oppose -- but that it’s more important to stop the deportations.
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