Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a pivotal member of the Gang of Eight, on Monday broke with Democratic colleagues over proposed changes to asylum and student visa laws in immigration reform.
Rubio’s office cautioned colleagues that Congress should not change federal rules for political asylum and student visas before an investigation of the Boston Marathon bombing is complete.
Rubio was dismayed the Senate Judiciary Committee defeated an amendment sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to halt proposed changes until a coordinated review detailing the intelligence and immigration failures was submitted to Congress by the inspectors general of the relevant agencies. It failed by a voice vote.
"There are serious concerns about how shortcomings in our immigration system could have allowed the Boston Marathon terrorist attack to occur,” said Alex Conant, Rubio’s spokesman.