GOP Candidates Go On The Record On Immigration

The two pre-New Hampshire primaries provided some of the most interesting and in-depth discussion among the Republican candidates on the issue of immigration.

For your convenience, Grassfire.org has compiled the video clips of each of the candidates' comments on immigration.

Note: in first 24 hours of posting, these videos were viewed more than 54,000 times. Click here to forward this resource to your friends!

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John McCain
Mitt Romney
Ron Paul
Mike Huckabee
Fred Thompson
Rudy Giuliani

John McCain

Summary of John McCain's statements:

• The Immigration Issue is a matter of National Security.
• All illegal immigrants are God's children and they must be treated with compassion.
  
• The American people desire secure borders--I will do the will of the people.
• Securing the border is the responsibility of the Federal Government and it is the first priorty in solving the illegal immigration problem.
• I never have and never will support amnesty!
  
• Holds the same beliefs as when he sponsered the controversial McCain Kennedy Immigration Bill of 2006. (This bill was regarded as a from of amnesty).
• Will mandate that border-state Governors certify that their border is secure.
• Supports an updated temporary worker program.
• Proposes an Electronic Employee Verification System: tamper proof biometric documents.
• All 2 million illegal aliens who have committed crimes must be deported.
• All employess who hire illegal aliens must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
• The McCain-Kennedy Comprehensive Immigration Bill of 2006 was not amnesty
• The illegal aliens were forced to pay fines, learn English, and get to the back of the legal immigration line. However, most illegal immigrants were allowed to stay in the United States
• Paying a fine and following certain mandates is not amnesty.

Mitt Romney

Summary of Mitt Romney's Statements:

• Adamantly believes that the 12 million illegal aliens should not be allowed to stay in the United States under any circumstances.
• The McCain-Kennedy Comprehensive Immigration Act is a form of amnesty.
• Americans are a human and compassionate people but they believe in the rule of law.
  
• America is a nation of laws and America's liberty is based upon the U.S. being a nation of laws.
• There should be no special pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens; it is unfair to those who are currently waiting in the legal immigration line.
• Welcomes legal immigration.
• Supports an employer tamper-proof ID card.
• Supports employer sanctions and prosecution of employers who hire illegal aliens

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Ron Paul

Summary of Ron Paul's Statments:

• We must look at the economics of the illegal immigration issue.
• America must first fix the problems of the runaway welfare state, excessive spending, and big government before it can fix the illegal immigration problem.
• We must take away the incentives for illegal immigration which are amnesty, welfare, medicaid for illegal aliens.
• American citizens are not receiving emergency health care because of illegal immigration.
• Shows of concern about the tamper-proof ID card; due to the fact that the government can not discriminate or use racial profiling, all Americans will soon have to get the ID card.
  

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Mike Huckabee

Summary of Mike Huckabee's Statements:

• The fact of the matter is that Americans are upset because the rule of law has been violated.
• The borders need secured and nothing can be or should be done until the borders are secured.
• Under his administration the border fences would be built in 18 months by American workers and with American tools and products. If the Empire State Building can be built in 14 months, the government can build the fence in 18 months.
• Border security is a matter of national security.
• The only way for illegal immigrants to make their situation right and live the American dream is to go back home and get at the back of the legal immigration line.
• The government does not have to round up all of the illegal immigrants. If they got here by themselves they can leave by themselves.
• Should children of illegal aliens receive in-state tuition and education? Yes, it is not the childrens fault that they are here. As the Governor of Arkansas, by law he had to educate the children.
  
• It does not make sense to turn the children lose on the street. This would lead to a much bigger problem.
• Illegal immigrants are family loving people who come here so their families can have a better life.

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Fred Thompson

Summary of Fred Thompson's Statements:

• The key to solving the immigration problem is: Enforcement by Attrition.
• Immigration is a national security issue, social issue, economic issue, compassion issue, fairness issue, and a state issue.
• The first step is to enforce the laws that are on the books today.
  
• In 1996 Congress outlawed amnesty for illegal aliens (Rudy Giuliani sued to deem this law unconstitutional).
• Second step is to enforce the border.
• Employers must be assisted with an employee verification system.
• Employers and states must work with the Department of Homeland Security.
• Employment magnets must be shut down.
• Sanctuary Cities must be terminated.
• New York City under Rudy Giuliani was a sanctuary city.
• All other candidates have policies that state: if you make it into the United States you are home free.This is sending an encouraging message to the next generation of Mexicans and other potential illegal immigrants.
• We can not listen to Mexico's president who is chastising the United States for securing the border.
• We must work with Mexico to build up its economy so that the illegal immigrants will stay in Mexico.

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Rudy Giuliani

Summary of Rudy Giuliani's Statements:

• Ronald Reagan is the hero of the Republican Party and he allowed amnesty. No current presidential candidate has a perfect immigration record.
• We must stop illegal immigration immediately.
• We must erect a fence: both physical and technological.
• Border patrol must be increased and they must use a borderstats system.
• All people entering the United States must identify themselves.
• Supports the implementation of a tamper proof bio-metric ID card.
• It is not physically possible to round up and deport all 12 million illegal aliens.
• First priority is to deport all of the 2 million reported criminals.
• After a good sytem is in place the remaining 10 million illegal aliens will get a tamper proof ID card, finger printed, and photographed.
• If an illegal alien does not come forward he will be deported immediatly with no chance of citizenship.
• If the illegal alien does come forward he will pay fines, pay taxes and get to the back of the line for legal immigration.
• All non-criminal illegal aliens can stay in the U.S. as along as they are tracked and if they learn to read, write, and speak English.
• His plan will take 4 to 5 years to implement.
  
• Due to the implementation of fines, this is not amnesty.
• As mayor Rudy was quoted as saying, " If you work hard, we want you!" His explanation: New York City was home to 400,000 illegal aliens and the Federal Government could only deport 2000 a year. He had to deal with them in a humane and sensible way.
  
• He allowed them to go to school, report crimes, and go to hospitals for emergency treatment.

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