Cuban-American presidential candidate Marco Rubio recently defended his stance on immigration after being criticized for initially being soft about the matter, Breitbart reports. Now, Rubio is urging that undocumented immigrants should have the opportunity to stay compared to "criminal aliens."

Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press" last Sunday, the senator defended his previous statements regarding immigration in light of the recent immigration raids being done under the Obama administration, the publication reports. 

When asked by Chuck Todd if the presidentiable was still looking for ways, similar to his previous efforts in the Gang of Eight immigration reform bill, he answered, "Yeah, look. If you're a criminal alien, no, you can't stay. If you're someone that hasn't been here for a very long time, you can't stay," Rubio said as quoted by the news outlet.

Rubio further explained the difference between a "criminal alien" and an undocumented immigrant. "I mean, a felon, someone who's committed a crime, a non-immigration-related- and that's what I've talked about in the past. So I do believe -- I don't think you're gonna round up and deport 12 million people," he said as quoted by the publication.

Rubio's statements came after receiving slack back in 2013 when he created the immigration bill that had the goal for undocumented immigrants to eventually be citizens, The Hill reports.

The presidentiable further revealed that his past strategies were signifying that it was time to change it based on what was currently happening.

"If circumstances change or you learn something along the way, it's reasonable to say, 'Maybe a different approach will work better,'" Rubio said as quoted by the outlet. "So, for example, on immigration it is clear no comprehensive solution to immigration is going to pass."

Rubio discussed that in order for undocumented immigrants to have the right processing on their citizenship, they will first have to control illegal immigration and secure the country's safety against threats like the ISIS, Breitbart reports.

Meanwhile, taking his stance higher, Rubio criticized his fellow presidential candidate Ted Cruz, saying that Cruz changed his argued position in the immigration issue from being a supporter to being the harshest candidate towards the issue, per The Hill.

Another report from Breitbart reveals that Rubio has strengthened his statements even more and says that he is the best candidate to fight the developing crisis in the U.S. He explains that there is no one who better understands the issue personally than him.