Despite meeting with Miami student, Rubio maintains opposition to DREAM Act

Despite his meeting yesterday with an immigrant Miami high school valedictorian who was to be deported, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL, has reiterated his opposition to the DREAM Act.

According to Fox News Latino, “when protests erupted over the looming threat of deportation faced by Colombian-born high school valedictorian Daniela Pelaez, Florida Senator Marco Rubio didn’t just stand up for her – he met with her personally in Washington.”

“But that doesn’t mean the Tea Party-backed senator has changed his position on the DREAM Act,” Fox adds.

The DREAM Act, which was first introduced in Congress ten years ago, would grant those who entered the U.S. illegally before the age of 16 conditional permanent resident status for a period of six years, after which they would be eligible to become legal permanent residents if they obtain at least an associate-level college degree or serve in the military for two years.

Rather than support the DREAM Act, Rubio says his hope is to “come up with a bi-partisan solution” to the problem. A solution that he told Fox News Latino “does not reward or encourage illegal immigration by granting amnesty, but helps accommodate talented young people like Daniela, who find themselves undocumented through no fault of their own.”

The DREAM Act has been fiercely contested by Republican lawmakers across the country, including Rubio, himself a member of an immigrant family and currently a rumored Republican vice presidential candidate.

Felipe Matos, of Presente Action, told The Florida Independent earlier this week that Rubio has adopted a “tea party agenda,” yet often makes media appearances in which he speaks on behalf of Latinos.

“Rubio’s good at flowery speeches, but we need policy,” says Matos, adding that Florida has 192,000 DREAM Act-eligible youth.

MSNBC reported Wednesday that Pelaez “won’t be forced to leave the country – for two years, anyway.”