Rubio: Trump should 'clearly outline' what he wants on DACA

Rubio: Trump should 'clearly outline' what he wants on DACA
© Victoria Sarno Jordan

Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioOvernight Defense: Tillerson, Trump deny report of rift | Tillerson says he never considered resigning | Trump expresses 'total confidence' in secretary | Rubio asks Army to kick out West Point grad Rubio asks Army to kick out West Point grad with pro-communist posts GOP establishment doubts Bannon’s primary powers MORE (R-Fla.) is calling for the White House to "clearly outline" what kind of legislation President Trump envisions signing after Trump moved to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for young immigrants.

Rubio said in a statement Tuesday that Trump's decision to rescind DACA with a six-month delay gives Congress "no time to waste on ideas that do not have the votes to pass or that the president won’t sign."

"Congress now has less than six months to deal with this the right way, through the legislative process," Rubio said. "It is important that the White House clearly outline what kind of legislation the president is willing to sign."

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The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it would end DACA, an Obama-era program that provides immigrants brought to the country illegally as minors with temporary protection from deportation.

Trump defended the decision on Tuesday, saying that any immigration proposal must provide "enduring benefits for the American citizens we were elected to serve" and that the six-month phaseout period for DACA gives lawmakers a "window of opportunity" to act.

Rubio said he supports Trump's decision to rescind DACA, which he called "unconstitutional." But he also urged Congress to act swiftly to codify into law protections for young immigrants.

Rubio was among the bipartisan group of eight senators that authored a 2013 comprehensive immigration-reform bill that would have shielded immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children from deportation. That measure passed the Senate but died in the House.