Huckabee's Answer (Immigration Plan)

Yesterday I posed a question to Governor Huckabee about whether his new immigration proposal punishes children for the actions of their parents - something he decried just weeks ago in an exchange with Mitt Romney. Here's the response I received last night from Governor Huckabee:

"Under my Secure America plan, immigrants and their families here illegally would have to return to their home countries. "Because we are talking about a policy that has profound implications for people's lives, I suspect that some people will attempt to use these hard cases to discredit the idea that anything can be done about the problem of illegal immigration. But we have unfortunately reached a crisis point where doing nothing is no longer an option. The policy of de facto amnesty has been a failure which is why we must focus on enforcement and attrition.

"The current system forces people into the shadows and into hiding. There should be no one living in our country with his head down, which is what we have now with an out-of-control immigration system. Although my plan isn't perfect, I believe it is a fair and compassionate approach to correcting a broken system."

I read that as a "yes." In other words, kids who are here illegally and in school - the same kids that Huckabee sought to provide additional opportunity to as governor and who defended that policy by saying we're a "better country" than to punish kids for the actions of their parents - would be taken out of school and deported.

I also think Huckabee is being either disingenuous or naive by arguing that his "report and deport" plan is going to be better than the current system, which "forces people into the shadows and into hiding." What sort of compliance does he expect? Millions of illegal immigrants - some of whom have been built lives and families in America over the course of the last few decades - are not going to voluntarily walk in to immigration offices and say "go ahead and deport me" back to a place where they have no job and no home.

It seems to me Huckabee's plan would therefore have the opposite effect of creating an America where people don't live with their "heads down." Even if his plan succeeded in deporting twenty or thirty percent of those living here illegally, for the remaining 70-80% the shadows would be much deeper and the fear much greater.

Was he lying then or is he lying now?

Boo-hoo! What part of "illegal" don't these people get? Whether you snuck in yesterday or in 1989 shouldn't have anything to do with your being in our country without our permission! You don't give them welfare, foodstamps, medical, dental, housing, education, sanctuary OR ANYTHING ELSE!! Leave! Scram! Vamoose! Go back home! The fact that Gomer Huckleberry doesn't believe in his new immigration plan is as plain as the nose on his face. You know that the second he's sworn in as president, he'll have Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi over for tea to discuss the "bipartisan comprehensive immigration package" that gives amnesty to 40 million illegals and encourages 40 million more to make the trek across the desert! He'll never build a fence, because that wouldn't be the "Christian" thing to do! Wonder what fabulous parting gifts he'll get from Tyson in 2013? This guy will be the 2nd coming of Jimmy Carter, with all the corruption of the Clintons!!

He's lying now. This is the real, candid Huckster:

Huckabee promotes 'open door' policy at LULAC convention

"Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority," Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.

Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

By Wesley Brown

Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK - In a impassioned speech before hundreds of influential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation, Gov. Mike Huckabee told a captive audience Wednesday that America is great because it has always opened it doors up to people seeking a better way of life.

"I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families ...," Huckabee said as the largely Hispanic audience gave him a standing ovation.

Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson, at a noon luncheon of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.

About 10,000 political, community and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are in Little Rock attending the convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention started Monday and runs through Saturday.

Although he never actually talked about the U.S. or Arkansas immigration policy, Huckabee made it very clear where he stood on the issue. In his opening remarks, he said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base.

"Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority," Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.

He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state's capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation. "Your gathering is so very significant for our state," Huckabee said. "We are delighted to have you."

Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not stray away from several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the recently ended 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the transition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity "in culture, in language and in population."

"This is an issue that is going to require extraordinary efforts on both sides of the border, particularly those coming from Mexico," Huckabee said of verifying the status of illegal aliens. "But I am confident that our government will recognize that we should accommodate people who wish to provide the best opportunities for their families (and) employers so that we can make sure our economy has the necessary work force."

During the legislation session, Huckabee criticized an immigration bill by Republican senators Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life. Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally. Holt, R-Springdale, replied later to Huckabee's comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.

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