U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the second Cuban-American Republican presidential candidate, said President Barack Obama's 2012 deferred action program "is important," but he wants to see the end of the deferred action program.

The 2012 deferred action program is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which provided undocumented immigrants youths temporary stay in the U.S. to continue their education or receive a work permit for a renewable two-year period.

According to Rubio, "I believe DACA is important. It can't be terminated from one moment to the next, because there are already people benefiting from it. But yes, it is going to have to end. It can't be the permanent policy of the United States, and I don't think that's what they're asking either. I think everyone prefers immigration reform."

Rubio, during the Spanish-language interview, said he believes immigration reform can be achieved when he is president. He noted the immigration reform legislation will not be comprehensive, or "not going to all be in one massive bill." Rubio said there is not enough political support for a comprehensive bill and acknowledged the previous attempt in 2013. The Florida senator is referring to "S.744 - Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act."

In 2013, S.744--which was crafted by the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" panel which Rubio was part of--passed the Senate with 68 votes in favor and 32 votes in opposition, but the bill was never picked up for debate in the House of Representatives. Since his vote in favor of the bill, Rubio has walked back from his vote.

During a separate interview, still on the topic of immigration, Rubio said if an undocumented immigrant have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade, passed a background check, learned English, paid taxes and a fine, then the individual would receive a work permit.

"And after a substantial period of time in that status, assuming they haven't violated any of the conditions of that status, they would be allowed to apply for legal residency. Just like anybody else would. Not a special process," Rubio said. "After you're a legal resident, after a number of years by law, you're allowed to apply for citizenship. It's a long process, it's a reasonable process. It's a fair process. But it has to happen in that order. And it begins with serious enforcement measures."

Rubio also commented on same-sex marriage. He said sexual preference is decided at birth, but when it comes to marriages, it should be a matter for states to decide.

"It's not that I'm against gay marriage. I believe the definition of the institution of marriage should be between one man and one woman. States have always regulated marriage, and if a state wants to have a different definition, you should petition the state legislature and have a political debate. I don't think courts should be making that decision," said Rubio, adding that same-sex marriage is not a Constitutional right.

Rubio also criticized Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, stating the former secretary of state will be another four years of Obama's term. "Up to this point, I've not seen her distinguish herself on a single issue from what the president is doing now," said Rubio, identifying her term as secretary of state as "a disaster for America."

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