Republican Candidates: Recent Stances On Immigration

When Republicans were asked in February what issues were most important to them, immigration was seventh. In a poll taken this week, immigration was fourth, according to NPR. It was behind only energy and the two wars.

See full link to this article:  ANNENBERG DIGITAL NEWS

The topic of immigration is clearly important and will play a role in the upcoming elections.  The above referenced article summarizes recent stances by all of the Republican candidates.  For summary purposes, I will only include the recent statements of the top three viable candidates:  Romney, Perry, and Cain:

Mitt Romney

Romney referred to illegal immigrants as illegal aliens during a debate, according to the Washington Post.  Romney has taken a hard stance against immigration, which has had positive results with conservative voters. It could, however, antagonize Nevada’s growing Hispanic population. Nevada is expected to be a key swing state in the general election, Politico reports.  Romney said at a town hall meeting in Salem, New Hampshire earlier this month that he supports a border fence, English immersion in schools, a crackdown on employers of illegal immigrants and denying welfare benefits to illegal immigrants, the United Press International reports.  He has also opposed giving children of illegal immigrants in-state tuition.      ANNENBERG DIGITAL NEWS

Rick Perry

Perry has taken a no-border-fence stance and is in favor of in-state tuition for illegal immigrant students.  Perry has received some heat from Bachmann over immigration policies he advocated in Texas. In 2001 Perry signed a law that allowed undocumented students who graduate from a Texas high school to attend a state college for in-state tuition. Bachmann said this violates 1998 federal law, according to the N.Y. Times.  Perry has also supported a Texas-style DREAM Act, according to the Washington Post.  During his time as governor of Texas, Perry opposed immigration policies popular with conservatives, which may now hurt him. He has said that building a fence with Mexico was “preposterous” and “an idiocy,” Politico reports. He supported a guest worker program for immigrant labor and does not support Arizona-style immigration laws.  Perry has since stressed border security, but not immigration reform, according to Politico. Still, Perry has not taken a hard stance against immigration which could hurt him with conservatives, but take away some Hispanic votes from Democrats.    ANNENBERG DIGITAL NEWS

Herman Cain

Cain said he would build an electric fence at the U.S.-Mexico border that could kill people who cross illegally at a rally in Tennessee, according to the N.Y. Times.  Cain also said he would consider using military troops to stop intruders.  During a later interview with “Meet the Press” with David Gregory, Cain said that he was joking about having a lethal fence, according to the Washington Post.  Cain has been advocating a fence that some have compared to the Great Wall of China.     ANNENBERG DIGITAL NEWS

I have blogged about the Great Wall of China analogy previously here: 

Great Wall   

In short, it would not work.  I have not included Bachman’s views here.  Similar to Cain, she has a ‘Build a Fence’ argument.  Due to a relatively pro-immigrant stance, Governor Perry looks like the only candidate who can take voters away from Obama in a presidential election.  Many of President Obama’s supporters have been frustrated and disappointed with his record in the field of immigration.