As he reportedly inches closer to making a decision on whether or not to run for the 2016 presidential race, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, said this week that he would be "open" in some instances to prohibiting immigrants who came illegally to the U.S. from ever gaining permanent citizenship.

In an interview with the New York Times, Rubio was asked about his latest book, titled "American Dreams," with the subject of immigration reform being broached. In his book, the senator, who has Cuban roots, proposes a piecemeal approach to immigration reform where the matter would be tackled by a series of bills starting with border security and ending with permanent residency.

Yet when asked how to deal with members of Congress who flat out refused any legislation allowing a pathway to citizenship, Rubio indicated that he would consider barring immigrants who came illegally from ever getting a chance to become U.S. citizens.

"We might prohibit people who came here illegally and got green cards under this process from ever becoming citizens. And if that's what we have to do to get this thing passed, I would be open to it," he said. "But I don't think that's a wise thing to do."

These comments come during a week where Rubio has publicly hinted that he is close to making a decision on whether or not to run for president -- a move many have expected him to make for some time.

Rubio told National Public Radio recently that while he has no time frame or date in mind, he said a decision on whether to throw his hat into the 2016 presidential race would come "certainly soon."

Last year, Rubio was one of the key members of the U.S. Senate's bipartisan panel known as the "Gang of Eight" that were looking to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill into law. The bill was passed in the Senate, but was never taken up for a vote on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Like many Republicans, Rubio openly criticized President Obama for pressing ahead with his executive action orders in November that, under certain conditions, would allow for certain immigrant parents with children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to apply for a temporary reprieve from deportation and authorizes them to work legally in the country for up to three years.

On whether the GOP must embrace immigration reform in order to make inroads with the Latino electorate -- which voted for President Obama in record numbers during the 2012 presidential elections over GOP candidate Mitt Romney, who took a hardline approach against immigration reform -- Rubio disagreed with that notion.

"Those who argue that this will be a bonanza for Republicans are not telling the truth. Those who argue that we should do it for the purpose of politics are also misanalyzing the issue," he said.

Having served in the U.S. Senate since 2011, Rubio has become a favorite among the GOP's conservative wing and his connection with Latinos via his Cuban heritage -- his father, Mario, and mother, Oria, both Cuban immigrants -- along with his positioning in the key battleground state of Florida have made him a viable contender for the GOP presidential nomination.

However, he may face stiff competition in Jeb Bush, another GOP favorite whose family has spawned two former presidents in his father, George H.W. Bush, and brother George W. Bush.