Fact Check: "Rubio's grandfather faced deportation while he denies migrants the same chance."
What We Know
Marco Rubio's grandfather, Pedro Victor Garcia, faced deportation upon re-entering the United States from Cuba in 1962. After fleeing Cuba due to the oppressive regime of Fidel Castro, Garcia was stopped by immigration officials in Miami, who deemed him ineligible for entry because he lacked proper documentation after having returned to Cuba for work. Initially, he was ordered to be deported, but later he was granted parole status, allowing him to remain in the U.S. without a green card (New York Times, Politico).
Rubio has advocated for stricter immigration policies, particularly concerning refugees from countries like Syria and Iraq, citing security risks as a primary concern. He has stated that if the U.S. cannot identify immigrants with 100% certainty, they should not be allowed entry (Yahoo News).
Analysis
The claim that Rubio's grandfather faced deportation is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The New York Times details the circumstances of Garcia's immigration experience, highlighting the initial deportation order and the eventual decision to grant him parole due to his health and the context of his situation (New York Times). Furthermore, Politico confirms that Garcia was indeed ordered deported but later allowed to stay in the U.S. under a parole status (Politico).
Rubio's current stance on immigration, which emphasizes heightened scrutiny and a more stringent vetting process, contrasts sharply with the leniency shown to his grandfather. Critics argue that this inconsistency highlights a potential hypocrisy in Rubio's policies, especially given the historical context of his grandfather's experience (Yahoo News).
The sources used in this analysis are reliable, with the New York Times and Politico being well-respected news organizations known for their investigative journalism. The information is corroborated across multiple outlets, reinforcing the credibility of the claim.
Conclusion
The claim that "Rubio's grandfather faced deportation while he denies migrants the same chance" is True. The evidence clearly shows that Pedro Victor Garcia was indeed ordered to be deported but was later allowed to remain in the U.S. under a parole status. This situation stands in stark contrast to Rubio's current immigration policies, which advocate for stricter measures that could have resulted in his grandfather's deportation under today's standards.
