Mackenzie Ryan

mryan@dmreg.com

JOHNSTON — Marco Rubio told a standing room-only crowd here that immigration is first and foremost an issue of national security, one that must be reformed to prevent terrorists from entering the country.

But the Florida senator also clarified his stance — offering a definition of “amnesty,” a politically toxic word that groups funded by his rivals are throwing his way. Rubio reassured the crowd of 500 that he is against it.

Earlier this week, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said she was against Rubio’s support of amnesty. Haley later amended her comment, saying she believes that Rubio opposes amnesty, but she was against the 2013 immigration bill offered by the Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group of four Republican and four Democratic senators that included Rubio.

“First of all, let me be clear, I don’t support amnesty,” Rubio said in Johnston. “Amnesty is the forgiveness of wrongdoing without consequences. There are consequences to violating our immigration laws, and it depends how you did it.”

Rubio said under his plan, "criminal aliens" and illegal immigrants who have been here less than 12 years will be deported.

He also wants to increase border security by adding 20,000 agents and 700 miles of fencing and walls and create an exit-entry tracking system for those who may otherwise overstay their visas, as well as an e-verify system to shut off the “job magnet" that attracts immigrants.

For those who have lived here longer, Rubio said they should pass a background check, learn English, pay a fine, start paying taxes and apply for a work permit. After 10 years, they can apply for a green card.

“That’s not amnesty, and it’s a reasonable approach for someone who’s been here for a long time, and who is otherwise not a bad person, who has not violated our laws except for immigration,” Rubio said.

But Rubio also framed the issue as one of national security, which he said must be dealt with first.

“ISIS understands our immigration system, they understand it really well,” he said. “And they are deliberately trying to get people in this country using our legal immigration system, so that’s first and foremost.”

Nadia Jaques of Urbandale asked Rubio about immigration, and told The Des Moines Register after the event that she appreciated Rubio’s comments, acknowledging that it's a complicated issue.

The 61-year-old volunteers with refugees in Des Moines, and while she believes the United States should enforce its laws and secure the border, she also worries about “social unrest” if leaders take a hard stance.

“I thought he did a really good job of answering it; he understands the problem because he’s lived it,” Jaques said, adding that she agreed with Rubio on ending loopholes that he says allows some immigrants to take unfair advantage of certain benefits.

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, introduced a bill that would curb welfare abuse by requiring Cuban immigrants to prove they were persecuted to qualify for benefits such as food stamps, which other asylum seekers must do.

Currently, Cubans receive special status that gives them immediate access to those benefits. But with normalized relations, some are returning back to the island after enrolling.

“Obama has opened the flights, and they go back to Cuba,” Rubio said.

Rubio’s faced increasing attacks on his immigration stances, including by super PACs supporting Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz.

"They’re running against me for president, so they’re going to say mean things to me,” Rubio said to the press in Johnston.

“Here’s the bottom line, my immigration position is clearer than anyone in this field,” Rubio said. “We’re not going to have amnesty, there will be no amnesty when I’m president. We’re going to enforce our laws, and we’re going to keep America safe.”

ABOUT THE EVENTS:

SETTING: An event room at the Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston. On Saturday, Rubio also had events in Council Bluffs and Sioux Center. He did not attend a campaign event in Spencer — his plane could not land because of bad weather, but South Dakota Rep. Kristi Noem and Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner stumped in his place.

CROWD: More than 500 in Johnston, including more than 80 out-of-state high school and college students attending as part of college courses or with nonprofit groups. More than 600 attended in Sioux Center.

REACTION: The crowd was friendly, laughing at Rubio’s jokes.

WHAT’S NEXT: Rubio will return to Iowa on Monday.