The American people are a generous people. but right now those who abuse the system are taking American taxpayers for fools. and we need to stop it. That is why I am hopeful that todays report from the Congressional Budget Office will give us renewed momentum to end this problem and reform the system. The way to do it is by passing a law I have introduced with Congressman CARLOS CURBELO in the House that ends the automatic assumption in U.S. law that assumes all Cuban immigrants are refugees. It says that in order to receive refugee benefits. they have to prove they are refugees or legitimately fearing for their lives if they were to return to Cuba. This is how the process works: If you cross the U.S.-Mexico border and you are from Cuba or arrive on a raft. you will get your status and will be legal in this country. but you will have to prove you are actually coming because you fear persecution before you automatically qualify for refugee benefits. In essence. all I am asking is that people prove they are political refugees before they qualify for Federal benefits that are available only to political refugees. Lest anyone think this is some sort of partisan trick. this is a bipartisan measure that my Democratic colleague. the senior Senator from Florida. supports. It has over 50 bipartisan cosponsors in the House. including the chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
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refugees refugee immigrants