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Rubio: Government shutdown unlikely over immigration reform

Rubio spoke Friday at a new distribution center of the pharmaceutical wholesaler AmerisourceBergen.  Photo by Amy Green
Rubio spoke Friday at a new distribution center of the pharmaceutical wholesaler AmerisourceBergen. Photo by Amy Green

Sen. Marco Rubio says he doesn't expect a government shutdown over immigration reform.

But the Florida senator says he supports Republican opposition to executive action on the issue.

Rubio says the current system encourages illegal immigration because it's too complicated and expensive to navigate.

He supports reform but says executive action from the president will do little to restore confidence in the system.

"If there was a way to prevent him from doing that I certainly would explore it, but I also would not want to do it in a way that is counterproductive, that shocks the country at a time when it needs it the least by creating some sort of government crisis."

Rubio is seen as a possible presidential candidate in 2016.

President Barack Obama could announce a broad immigration overhaul as soon as this week.

 

Amy Green covered the environment for WMFE until 2023. Her work included the 2020 podcast DRAINED.