Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa by Vernon T. Williams, Photographer

Sen. Marco Rubio’s proposed alternative DREAM Act would create second class citizens in this country, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosasaid this week.

“I think that Sen. Rubio’s version of the DREAM Act would create a second class status for folks,” Villaraigosa told CBS’ Bob Schieffer on “Face the Nation.” But he said it was important to engage in a national debate on this immigration issue.

Villaraigosa re-iterated his support for the Democratic version of the proposed legislation, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who graduated from college or served in the military.

Rubio, who has said he is trying to moderate some of the Republican rhetoric regarding the immigration issue — and may be trying to secure a spot on a national ticket — has begun fashioning what he calls an alternative version of the DREAM Act. That version, which has not been introduced yet, would give qualified scholars and veterans a work permit, but not citizenship.

Villaraigosa was discussing the fall election with former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Both agreed that a potential Rubio selection as a running mate with presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney would not appreciably change the dynamics of the race.

Although such a selection would be historic, both said that history also shows that vice presidential running mates do not traditionally upend a presidential race.

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