“No one who has ever run for president understands this issue personally better than I do and that’s why I can tell you and you should tell your friends that no one running for president is better prepared to fix it than me,” he said in response to a voter who asked Rubio how voters would ever trust him on immigration because of his “soft” reputation on the issue.

Rubio grew increasingly passionate as he discussed the issue which has nagged him on the campaign trail as he has tried to emphasize his conservative credentials. During his speech he reminded the audience that he and his wife’s family were all immigrants and grew up in an immigrant community which made him more qualified to address the issue.

“I understand this issue personally, I understand the good, the bad, and the ugly, and every aspect of it,” he said.