Rubio Introduces Bill Restricting Cuban Immigrant Benefits
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Florida Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill on Tuesday restricting benefits to Cubans who arrive in the United States.
The presidential hopeful first spoke to CBS4's Jim DeFede last week on the campaign trail in New Hampshire about his plans.
Rubio said it is now clear to him that many of the Cubans arriving in the United States are taking advantage of the preferential treatment they have received for decades.
Many Cubans now-a-days are fleeing economic hardship and not political persecution, said Rubio.
The law, he told Defede last week in New Hampshire, needs to be changed.
"Not only does it need to be re-examined for that reasons but I think the benefits they are receiving now that they are coming on the Cuban Adjustment Act need to be re-examed for that reason," said Rubio. "We see the abuses already. We see the abuses happening. You have people coming now, they are collecting social security having never worked in the U.S. and they are moving back to Cuba and their relatives are wiring them the money. The system is being taken advantage of and it needs to be addressed."
Related: Rubio Plans To Present Bill Restricting Immigrant Benefits
Rubio's bill would require those seeking government assistance to prove they are actual political refugees. His measure is a similar one to a bill introduced by Miami Congressman Carlos Curbelo.
Click here to read more about U.S.- Cuba Relations.
