Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake complimented former Florida governor Jeb Bush for talking about immigration in a humane and unapologetic manner,
Politico reported.
Writing on his
Facebook page, Flake said he'd been asked what he made of
Bush's statement that many illegal immigrants leave their countries out of family necessity.
Bush said, "The way I look at this is someone who comes to our country because they couldn't come legally ... and they crossed the border because they had no other means to work, to be able to provide for their family, yes, they broke the law, but it's not a felony. … It's an act of love, it's an act of commitment to your family."
Flake wrote: "Truth is, I agree with Jeb, and I applaud him for having the guts to say it. Growing up here in Arizona, I've seen what motivates those who come here illegally. Sure, some come with the intent to do harm or simply to take advantage of our generosity. But many come to find work to feed their families. To lump everyone who crosses the border illegally into the same class is unfair and unproductive."
The U.S. senator continued, "Recognizing motivations does not change the fact that we need a secure border. We need to give employers the tools to determine who is here illegally and who is not. We need more robust temporary worker programs that account for our labor needs."
Flake said, "I hold no brief for Jeb Bush, but having such a prominent Republican speak so humanely and unapologetically about the motivations behind many of those who have come to reside in this country is good for all of us."
He is a member of the bi-partisan group of eight senators who drafted a sweeping immigration overhaul that passed with 68 votes in June.
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