Posted on 06/25/2006 2:09:15 PM PDT by Jeff Fuller
Cross posted at Iowans for Romney
Many people wonder about Mitt Romney's stance or experience with the "hot-button" issue of illegal immigraton
As an intro, below is Gov. Romney's experience with Massachusetts "English Immersion " Program which 68% of voters supported to end "Biligual Education" in the state schools:
bostonherald.com, 7-16-03 “Watered Down English Immersion Law Incurs Governor's Wrath”
BOSTON, MA - After the Massachusetts legislature carved out exemptions to a voter-approved English-immersion law for immigrants, Governor Mitt Romney called their action an act of "unfathomable arrogance" and vowed to oust legislators who backed the move.Not surprisingly, this watered down version has had it’s shortcomings (Boston Globe, May 21,2006). However, one must admit, that achieving a rather large percentage of fluency at the first assessment is better than trapping kids in bilingual education programs indefinitely. One reason for the failure is a lack of support for the measure by the educators themselves:An overwhelming 68% percent of Massachusetts voters approved a ballot initiative last year requiring that immigrant students be placed in all-English classes instead of bilingual classes. But on July 14 the lawmakers voted to override the governor's veto of several newly created exemptions, including one for "two-way" programs, a form of bilingual education in which students of different cultures learn each other's languages simultaneously.
Branding the loopholes as a capitulation to "special interests," including teachers unions, Romney said he wants immigrant students to learn English first. About 51,000 students in the state have limited English skills The voter-approved law allows for "two-way" programs but requires that students be able to speak English first. The legislature rolled back that part of the law and another part that limited the programs to older students. Opponents of "two-way" programs charge that they help native English speakers who want to learn Spanish, but are a detriment to students who need to learn English. "Individuals in the legislature or elsewhere who believe they are smarter than the voters, I'm going to campaign to find people to take their place," Romney said
“A state survey in December and January, which the Globe obtained, found that more than half of the 52 school systems educating the vast majority of non-native English speakers did not set up separate classes to teach English as a second language.”
Romney Immigration Quotes/Articles:
Speech given at the Heritage Foundation on September 14, 2005 (link is to streaming video and streaming or downloadable audio—mp3 of Romney’s 35 min speech followed by 20+ min of a Q&A session—Topic was actually Homeland Security, but during the Q&A session the topic of illegal immigration came up)—transcription of quotes below is my own:
“I would like to see us, as a nation, bringing in fewer illegal immigrants.”
“I do not like the idea, therefore, of Amnesty; because, I’m afraid, that when you have a regular Amnesty program, of one form or another, you will create a greater incentive for people to come into the country illegally.”
“In my state I’ve said that I will veto any legislation which calls for a drivers license for illegal immigrants.”
“I recently had a bill on my desk last year that said that we should give kids of illegal immigrants who lived in our state a tuition break for our state colleges and universities and I said “No” I vetoed that, it’s one of my few vetoes that has stood up. It’s not that those kids deserve to be discriminated against . . . they don’t. But I didn’t want to create any incentives to have people move to our country illegally. Now, why is that? I’d like to have more people come to our country legally. I love immigrant populations coming to this land. They’ve been an enormous source of our strength.”
“Now I realize that there are some states that rely on immigrant populations to carry out agricultural business. Maybe Pres. Bush’s idea of a guest-pass program may be the right answer for that kind of setting . . . but to have that turn into a permanent citizen status or to encourage illegal immigration is something that we should take care to avoid.”
Source: Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press Writer Nov 1, 2005
“A bill to let children of illegal immigrants pay the same lower tuition rate at state colleges as other MA residents sparked a political sparring match between Democrats and the Romney administration. Romney chastised critics for advocating a bill he said would encourage illegal behavior. Romney said the state's focus should be on helping legal immigrants. Giving children of illegal immigrants a tuition break would act as an incentive to draw in more illegal immigrants to Massachusetts, Romney said.”
"I don't believe in amnesty," Romney said, using a word voiced by Republicans to describe widespread forgiveness of illegal residency in the United States.
But at the same time, Romney said illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship.
"I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country," Romney said. "With these 11 million people, let's have them registered, know who they are. Those who've been arrested or convicted of crimes shouldn't be here; those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country."
Regarding immigration, Romney said U.S. borders should be made more secure to keep illegal immigrants from entering. He also said he opposed an amnesty program that would automatically grant citizenship to the approximately 11 million illegal immigrants already in this country.
"I think that route is not acceptable at this stage," he said. "We should report illegal behavior."
Instead, Romney said, illegal immigrants should be identified and required to apply for green cards, which would allow them to live and work in the United States. Those whose applications are accepted could stay, the rest would be returned to their native countries.
Governor Mitt Romney is seeking an agreement with federal authorities that would allow Massachusetts state troopers to arrest undocumented immigrants for being in the country illegally.
Under the agreement Romney is seeking, troopers would have greatly expanded powers: They could check an immigrant's legal status during routine patrols such as during a traffic stop and decide whether the immigrant should be held.
"It's one more thing you can do to make this a less attractive place for illegal aliens to come to work," said Romney.
J A P: Just Another Politicain.
"I don't believe in amnesty," Romney said, using a word voiced by Republicans to describe widespread forgiveness of illegal residency in the
But at the same time, Romney said illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship. "I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country," Romney said. "With these 11 million people, let's have them registered, know who they are. Those who've been arrested or convicted of crimes shouldn't be here; those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country."
That's as far as I needed to read, he sounds just like GWB. No thanks!
your reply 30 seconds after my post makes me realize you didn't read ANYTHING, but still felt like you'd chime in. Thanks!
Bill Clinton without the sleaze and corruption.
Read on!
He's trying to mobilize state troops to be able to enforce federal immigration laws. He sees there's a lack of leadership in D.C. on this issue and wanted to make a statement that Mass. at least was willing to do something about it.
get ready for a steady drone of Romneyisms. He just may be the chosen one.
Name calling is popular around here. Now "Bill Clinton"? You don't know much about Romney, do you?
Anything gleaned from the Boston Globe should be assumed of opposite value.
As they hate Mitt, so must I love him.
Must agree with you! And, boy, does the Globe hate Mitt!
We should all be ready to take the best we can get in 2008 for president. While some may WANT to round up all the illegals and dump 'em back over the border, it will not be an option any serious candidate is suggesting. It may be fun to flirt with Tancredo, but let's be realistic.
Romney's statements so far on this issue make him a big step in the right direction. Especially in comparison to the other realistic candidates.
You assume my opinion is against Romney. Yes, I read what you wrote. But, after having GWB sell out, and seeing "Heroes" such as John McCain make statements to boost themselves, I am cynical and skeptical.
READ THIS:
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20041213-124920-6151r.htm
"Bush has done everything he can to leave the doors wide open," said Robert Kunst, president of HillaryNow.com, a group dedicated to drafting Mrs. Clinton to run for president. "Hillary is the only one taking a position on immigration. She will win that issue hands down."
In an interview last month on Fox News, Mrs. Clinton said she does not "think that we have protected our borders or our ports or provided our first responders with the resources they need, so we can do more and we can do better."
BTW, I agree with Sheana, Post#3.
And, I will bet that you haven't had an Illegal Alien victimize you.
I agree Romney is the best realistic candidate on immigration. This is definetly an issue he has always been consistent on and has not been a Johnny come lately on.
He is my top choice for 2008.
You go right ahead. I don't have to accept "the best we can get". I will vote for noone who wants to amnesty the millions of lawbreakers here.
What a pitiful statement imo.
""I don't believe in amnesty,"But at the same time
Boy, this is gettig discouraging. I just about got to the point that Romney and Allen were the only GOP Presdidential hopefuls who were opposed to illegal immigration and that Allen probably would lose. Now I read this. It may be that the nominee two years from now is someone we have not even yet considered. If this turns into the amin isssue as I hope it does we will be looking long and hard for a serious candidate.
The quotes are posted in chronological order. I did this to show that although he's never been soft on immigration, that he is getting tougher on it. I haven't heard him say anything recently stating that he wants millions of illegals to be put on a track toward citizenship. Romney has stiffened on the issue as it has become more of an issue (witness his decision last week to be able to mobilize state troopers to enforce immigration laws.) I like the fact that he's much stronger than the Senate bill (though a Tancredo-type will be hard to find as a serious presidential candidate)
Personally, I say document these folks, make them pay taxes but get no more benefits than they are currently getting. If they want to become citizens, have them leave the country and then come back in legally on a specialized guest worker program (only for previous illegals that have US roots and family) that can lead to citizenship if they are fluent in English and law-abiding.
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