The "big sin" he's associated with is a Texas dream law 10 years ago which passed with veto proof majorities. It was tightened in 2005 and a repeal bill never even made it out of committee this term. Here's an FR thread explaining the Texas dream law.
Perry's signed bills against human trafficking (HB 1372, 4008 & SB 11 of '07), on increased border security (probably the Rangers on the border he's mentioned; HB1 of '07), for tougher employer sanctions (HB 1196 of '07), on document fraud (HB 126 of '07) and signed Voter ID. Source: http://www.txcc.org/illegal-immigration & Reuters (Voter ID signing)
As he mentioned in the Waterloo, IA Q&A Sunday, he did send Rangers to the border: Texas governor sends Rangers to Mexico border (2009)
He also mentioned arial assets on the border:
Texas Gov. Rick Perry says Predator drones should patrol Texas border (2009)
Texas gets a second aerial drone for border security (2011)
He's not for amnesty or "pathway to citizenship" as a reward:
In A December 2006 editorial, Gov. Perry wrote: "I would rather know who is crossing our border legally to work instead of not knowing who is crossing our border illegally to work. A guest worker program that provides foreign workers with an ID removes the incentive for millions of people to illegally enter our country. It also adds those workers to our tax base, generates revenue for needed social services and it can be done without providing citizenship." and "Along with millions of Americans, I think it is wrong to reward those who broke our laws with citizenship ahead of those who have followed the law and are waiting to enter this country legally. And like millions of Americans I do not support amnesty." (Emphasis mine.)
Source: http://governor.state.tx.us/news/editorial/10326/
He's a critic of E-Verify's lack of impact on Texas but it is used in thousands of Texas business although not required. However, Texas does require and use the I-9 "employment eligibility" forms which is where E-Verify is supposed to take its info. So in a real sense Texas already verifies eligibility, and under Perry it became harder on employers who violate the law and those who provide documents to defraud employers. Hutchison says Texas state doesn't use E-Verify to weed out undocumented workers applying for jobs (PolitiFact, 2010)
A mandatory E-Verify bill failed to pass the Texas legislature this year Business leaders say mandatory ‘E-Verify’ plan would harm small businesses (2011)
Perry also got a ban on driver's licenses for illegals through too (SB 1). ID measure passed quietly, while sanctuary cities bill died noisily
A bill banning "sanctuary cities," added by Perry to the recent special session, passed the Senate but failed in the Texas House. Same story as above: ID measure passed quietly, while sanctuary cities bill died noisily
Gee. Look at that! Old open borders RINO Rick, Governor Goodhair. He's never done anything about illegal immigration or border control. /s
Using I-9 forms does absolutely nothing re: illegal eligibility, as employers are expressly forbidden from questioning doubtful (fake) IDs.
Perry’s only ‘toughness’ on illegal immigration is in the last two years, running up to his presidential campaign. He’s got a decade of being dreadful on it.
I would like to believe that a "guest worker program" does not lead to citizenship, but I am not convinced. Many millions are here illegally because of expired visas. Guest workers sire anchor babies.
And even assuming we can trust Perry's intentions, the larger the pool of potential amnesty candidates, the greater the danger of importing 10s of millions of leftist voters. Let's say Perry was POTUS 8 years, accumulating guest workers the whole time, with no amnesty. Think those programs are going away? No, they will still be here, and you can bet the leftists (and perhaps RINOs too) will keep trying to "bring them out of the shadows" and make them all voters.
And we have over 9% unemployment, probably double that in reality!
If Perry had mentioned some of those little problems I mentioned, I might have more confidence he and his brain trust had even thought about them.
Palin's approach is similar, and perhaps worse, because her program itself could lead to "a path to citizenship" and voting (it's really unclear). On O'Reilly in 2010 she proposed registering and providing work for illegals, as long as they "follow the steps" in her program.
If you notice, most of what you posted is all flash. Theres no “go-get-em” type of suff there ( Arizona or Alabama laws) and chances are, what is there was done in an election year when Perry is known for “playing conservative.” The ID laws are really a joke and Perry knows that. People are busted here all the time for issuing fake credentials. The laws that would make a difference, like the sanctuary cities law, Perry works behind the scenes to derail thwm. His two largest campaign donors derailed that one. The CEO’s of HEB and Perry Homes. Bottom line, Perry has proven he can be bought, (gardasil) and he cannot be trusted.
Perry stands to lose revenue and commerce if the borders were tightened to where checkpoints etc. were established. He seems to prefer manpower....which is costly to say the least...and puts our guys in harms way.
I believe the Pres. first priority is to protect the security of our nation....how can anyone see Perry as doing that when his record speaks he is not interested in closing the borders at all...and willing to "risk" the security of our nation for revenues and monitary gain for his state.