The leaders acknowledged that not all of Rubio’s immigration views are acceptable to the community – such as letting the deportation relief program DACA expire. But they said he is the best chance for an immigration solution. Kasich has similar views on immigration, the leaders said, but not as strong of a chance of winning the nomination.

“We respect Dr. Carson. We respect Gov. Kasich. We understand that Sen. Cruz has a right to run, but we ask they put the interest of the party and the country before their own interest,” said Alfonso Aguilar, a spokesman for the Latino Conservative Leaders group. “If they continue in the race, Donald Trump is going to continue winning by default … We can beat Donald Trump but we are running out of time.”

Their endorsement came while Rubio was holding a rally in Dallas after the rough and tumble CNN/Telemundo debate at the University of Houston campus Thursday night. In Dallas, Rubio called Trump a con artist and read Trump’s mean tweets about him.