MIAMI — Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, the most recent candidate within the Republican presidential area, drew some distinctions between himself and his rivals Thursday, suggesting that the six-week abortion ban signed into regulation by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is just too extreme and displaying an openness to altering the nation’s immigration system.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Suarez expressed assist for a 15-week federal abortion ban, saying the nation “is not there yet” on six weeks. He additionally mentioned his standing as the one Hispanic candidate within the GOP race offers him “a lot of credibility” in a dialog about reforming immigration legal guidelines, although he was obscure about what he’d suggest.

“I do think that we need to right-size legal immigration and that it should be connected to our employment rate and our declining birth rate,” mentioned Suarez, who has Cuban ancestry. “And I do think we have to do something with those who are undocumented in our country.”

Suarez, 45, made his candidacy official Wednesday by submitting paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. He introduced his run Thursday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” evading questions concerning the GOP main front-runner, former President Donald Trump, who appeared in federal court docket in Suarez’s metropolis two days in the past on expenses he illegally hoarded categorized paperwork and refused authorities calls for to offer them again.

He is the third Florida resident to launch a 2024 bid for the White House, however the race to date is essentially seen as a contest between the 2 different candidates in his state: Trump and DeSantis. Suarez has mentioned he didn't vote for Trump for president in 2016 or 2020 or for DeSantis for governor in 2018, although he did find yourself backing him in 2022.

Suarez spoke Thursday on the Reagan Library in California, repeatedly praising his father, Miami’s first Cuban mayor, who traveled with him. He mentioned that beneath President Joe Biden’s administration, inflation was excessive, homelessness was worsening and the nation was shedding its affect all over the world.

PHOTOS: Suarez backs 15-week federal abortion ban, says he has 'credibility' on immigration dialog

“We must not shy away from the challenges that will allow us to continue to deliver generational prosperity,” Suarez mentioned. “To meet this challenge, we need a strong leader who shares America’s values, who understands that unity is more powerful than division.”

When it involves abortion, Suarez indicated to the AP that the boundaries within the new regulation in Florida and different states are a lot stricter than what he would assist as president.

“Look, I think that the country is not there yet,” he mentioned of the six-week ban, which is earlier than many ladies know they're pregnant.

He mentioned he would again a 15-week federal abortion ban with uncommon exceptions, consistent with a plan proposed by GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina final yr that extra reasonable Republicans tried to distance themselves from earlier than the midterm elections.

“We are in a situation where 70% of the country agrees with a limitation of 15 weeks where there is an exception for the life of the mother and an exception for rape and incest, and I think that is a position that will save a tremendous amount of babies,” Suarez mentioned. “If there was that kind of federal law, that’s one that I would support as president.”

The six-week abortion ban in Florida will take impact if the state’s present 15-week ban is upheld in an ongoing authorized problem that's earlier than the state Supreme Court, which is managed by conservatives.

Abortion has been a prime challenge within the Republican presidential area to date, with candidates together with DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence supporting six-week bans. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, like Suarez, has backed a 15-week federal ban, whereas former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has mentioned she helps a federal ban however hasn’t specified at what number of weeks.

Trump, whose appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, has prompt that Florida’s six-week abortion ban is “too harsh” and blamed Republican abortion hard-liners for GOP losses in final yr’s midterms.

On immigration, Suarez acknowledged there's a have to safe the border and alter the immigration system. Many of Suarez’s Republican rivals again hard-line immigration insurance policies, together with deploying troops and reinstating a Trump coverage that made asylum seekers wait in Mexico.

DeSantis has mentioned Trump didn't comply with by his guarantees to toughen the border and has pledged to do extra, telling voters lately in South Carolina that he would shut the border down.

During his time period in workplace, Trump enacted greater than 400 immigration coverage adjustments, together with separating youngsters from their dad and mom on the border with no plans to reunite them.

In the interview, Suarez additionally addressed questions on a latest Miami Herald report saying the FBI is investigating funds he obtained from a developer who was seeking to safe permits from town. He mentioned he has not been contacted by investigators.

Suarez mentioned he has reached out to the Miami-Dade County’s Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, which is reviewing the allegations with state prosecutors.

“I’m confident and I have said that I will not use and did not use my official position to benefit any private party, and nor will I ever do that as mayor or as president,” he mentioned.

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